Alright, let’s talk about it. For three and a half years now, we’ve been hearing the promises, the spin, the insistent message that things were getting better. “Build Back Better,” they said. “The adults are back in the room,” the media cheered. Fast forward to today, and look around. The economy? Still sputtering for millions. The border? A complete breakdown. The global stage? Absolute chaos. It feels like we’ve finally hit the peak of the “crisis after crisis” era this administration seems to have ushered in.
The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability recently held a hearing, and let’s just say they didn’t pull any punches. Titled, with a certain pointedness, “A Legacy of Incompetence: Consequences of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Policy Failures,” the session was a deep dive into the real-world pain points Americans are feeling. Republican lawmakers, backed by expert witnesses from diverse fields like border security and economics, laid out a case connecting the dots between the administration’s decisions and the struggles hitting everyday folks. It wasn’t pretty.
Chairman James Comer, straight to the point as usual, released a memorandum ahead of the hearing that doesn’t leave much to the imagination. He argues that the record-high inflation we’re all groaning under, the border crisis that’s the worst this nation has ever seen, and the instability rocking the world stage can all be traced back to the policy and management choices coming out of the White House. You hear that? Not just bad luck, but specific choices.
Now, you might expect the other side to jump in and defend the record, right? To stand up and say, “No, actually, here’s why this is working.” But according to the wrap-up from the hearing, that’s not what happened. Committee Democrats, it says, spent hours doing what many feel they do best these days: attacking former President Donald Trump. The analysis paints it as a clear maneuver to “cover up this administration’s disastrous record.” Instead of debating the current state of affairs, the focus apparently shifted to rehashing old battles.
Meanwhile, the Republicans at the hearing were reportedly trying to steer the conversation towards actual solutions. With witnesses who have spent their careers knee-deep in these issues – from national security to government operations – the discussion aimed to find ways to potentially “reverse the damage caused by the Biden-Harris Administration and provide Americans relief.” Because honestly, isn’t relief what everyone is desperate for right now?
The core takeaway from the committee, crystal clear, is that the administration’s “disastrous policies and poor leadership record have fueled crisis after crisis.” It’s a strong statement, but one that resonates when you look at the specifics. The text points to an “expansive and costly regulatory agenda,” a move to eliminate “deterrent-focused immigration policies at the southern border,” a pattern of “mismanaged taxpayer funds,” and a clear hand in creating “instability on the global stage.”
These aren’t just talking points; the committee memorandum, titled “Consequences of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Mismanagement and Policy Failures,” specifically details how these policies and what it calls “weak leadership” sparked multiple crises. Chairman Comer didn’t mince words when he kicked off the hearing. He recalled the initial optimism, the promises of a “Build Back Better” world, and the media’s embrace of the idea that “the adults are back in the room.”
But then came the reality check. Three and a half years later, Comer observed, “the economy is suffering, the border is broken, and crises continue to erupt worldwide.” He delivered a damning assessment: “Everything Joe Biden and Kamala Harris has touched has failed.” That’s a mic drop moment, for sure, capturing the depth of the frustration many are feeling.
Comer insisted the evidence of this “incompetent and weak leadership is seen and felt by Americans across our nation.” He highlighted the committee’s work to understand what’s working and what isn’t, and how to move forward when the administration seems to have just “drifted from crisis to crisis.” It’s a powerful narrative of drift and failure, painted against the backdrop of initial high hopes.
The expert witnesses brought specific examples to the table, putting real meat on the bones of the committee’s criticisms. They testified that the administration’s policies weren’t just theoretical mistakes; they actively “created a border crisis, wasted billions in taxpayer funds, damaged America’s international credibility, jeopardized U.S. energy production, and hurt Americans’ pocketbooks.”
Take the border, a situation that seems to dominate headlines and conversations alike. Mark Krikorian, the Executive Director for the Center for Immigration Studies, offered a stark assessment. He argued that President Biden didn’t just undo Trump-era policies. No, he said, the administration has gone even further, making a “significant — if not tectonic — break from every one of its predecessors.” What’s the core issue? According to Krikorian, the Biden-Harris Administration has “rejected any action that would deter illegal entrants as a border policy.” That’s a fundamental shift, and one he links directly to the crisis.
Then there’s the issue of taxpayer money, something we all have a stake in. Brendan Carr, a Commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission, zeroed in on a specific program: the $42 billion plan led by Vice President Harris to expand high-speed internet access. It’s a huge amount of money aimed at connecting millions of Americans.
But here’s the kicker, according to Carr: “It has now been 1,039 days since the $42 billion program was signed into law.” And the result? “After all of that time, not one person has been connected to the Internet with those dollars—not one home, not one business.” That’s not just slow; that’s a complete standstill on a massive investment meant to help people.
So, what has been happening with that $42 billion program instead? Carr claims the administration has been “layering on red tape and advancing a wish list of progressive policy goals that may cater to favored political constituencies, but undermine the goal of connecting all Americans.” He listed off a series of agenda items being pushed through this infrastructure program, including a “climate change agenda, DEI requirements, technology biases, price controls, preferences for government-run networks, and rules that will undoubtedly lead to wasteful overbuilding.”
Carr’s conclusion on this point is blunt: “All of this will leave rural and other unconnected communities behind.” Chairman Comer jumped on this, calling it “so bad” and exactly why the Committee exists – to “root out waste, fraud, and abuse.” The image painted is one of a massive federal program hijacked by political priorities, failing to deliver on its core promise.
Meaghan Mobbs, Director of the Center for American Safety and Security, focused on the international stage, and her assessment is equally grim. She stated the “core duty of any government is to protect its people,” yet she argues that “over the last four years, the world has only grown more dangerous.” She cited major events like “the largest attack on a European nation in 85 years and the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust” as evidence.
Mobb’s critique centers on how the administration is perceived globally. She believes “Our enemies no longer view the United States as a nation ready to act with strength and resolve when confronted.” Instead, she suggests, they see “an administration more focused on diplomatic gestures and conciliatory measures, often at the expense of American security.” It’s a picture of a weakened America on the world stage, with tangible consequences.
Energy policy is another area where the administration faces harsh criticism, particularly regarding its impact on Americans’ wallets. Mandy Gunasekera, former Chief of Staff at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, argued that “Corporate media and Democrats are working overtime to re-write the truth of the Biden-Harris Administration and their abysmal record of failures.” She pointed to statements from both Biden and Harris, like a promise to “end all fossil fuels” and a commitment to ban fracking.
