Burlison talks oversight in Washington, pushes for transparency
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Southwest Missouri Congressman Eric Burlison says concerns over Pentagon spending and political infighting in Congress are complicating efforts to conduct oversight in Washington.
During an interview on the KZRG Morning NewsWatch, Eric Burlison discussed the Pentagon’s proposed $1.5 trillion authorization request and the role of the House Department of Government Efficiency Committee, on which he serves.
Burlison said the committee does not have direct authority to cut federal spending but can hold hearings and investigate agencies to bring attention to government waste.
“We can provide oversight. We can have the hearings. We can shine the light on things,” Burlison said. “We don’t have the authority to cut their budgets directly.”
The congressman criticized the Department of Defense for seeking what he described as a major increase in spending while continuing to fail financial audits.
“For them to ask for a 50% increase in their spending when they can’t pass an audit is something that I have a problem with,” Burlison said.
He clarified that the National Defense Authorization Act does not automatically provide the Pentagon with the full amount requested. Instead, Congress authorizes programs and later determines actual funding through the appropriations process.
Burlison said he supports increased pay for military service members but believes too much money is spent on defense contractors.
“I think there’s a lot of bloat and waste and honestly some grift and corruption that’s happening with our military contracts,” he said. “But not with our servicemen and women.”
Burlison also addressed challenges facing congressional oversight committees, saying political grandstanding has made it more difficult to conduct hearings.
He pointed to disputes surrounding subpoenas related to Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, arguing some lawmakers are more focused on media attention than substantive oversight.
“At the end of the day, it’s about cameras. It’s about the political optics,” Burlison said.
The congressman said partisan tensions and a narrow Republican majority in the House have contributed to dysfunction within committees.
