Dooley supported “every bit” of DOGE and downplayed federal layoffs after DOGE resulted in $815 million in federal funding cuts to Georgia nonprofits and organizations and fired over 2,300 CDC employees in Atlanta. DOGE-driven cuts and downsizing were affecting the federal government’s ability to deliver services to seniors. More than 1.56 million Georgians relied on Social Security benefits and DOGE closed five of Georgia’s local SSA offices.
[AUDIO] Dooley Claimed We Were “In A Fiscal Crisis Because The Government Spends Too Much Of Our Money, Taxpayer Money,” So He Wanted To “Get All This Grift Out Of The System. Fraud, Waste, Abuse. People Are Stealing From Our Government. And So, I Support Every Bit Of What DOGE Intention Was.” “HOST: Did you support the DOGE efforts to restructure federal government and dismantle some federal agencies? DOOLEY: Well, look, let's go back to it's all how you look at it. Again, we are in a fiscal crisis because the government spends too much of our money, taxpayer money. They spend too much. So, what's a way to get them to stop spending? Well, the most obvious first step should be, again, let's get all this grift out of the system. Fraud, waste, abuse. People are stealing from our government. And so, I support every bit of what DOGE intention was, which was to go in. Let's eliminate fraud, waste and abuse. Let's get more efficient in our systems that probably hadn't been updated since the eighties and keep chipping away at being a lot more efficient government, more fiscally responsive and better equipped to serve the people who need help from the federal government.” [Politically Georgia, 8/25/25]
DOGE Cut $815 Million In Federal Grants For Georgia’s Public Schools, Universities, Public Health, Mental Health Services, Housing, Immigrant Services, And Agriculture Sector. According to State Affairs, “A State Affairs analysis of DOGE data found that as of mid-April, more than $815 million in federal grants for public schools, universities, public health, mental health services, housing, immigrant services, agriculture and international causes based in Georgia have been cut.” [State Affairs, 5/2/25]
DOGE Fired Over 2,300 CDC Workers In Atlanta. According to State Affairs, “No federal agency in Georgia has felt the sting of firings more than the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which has lost at least 2,300 employees since layoffs and buyouts began last month, according to a list provided by former workers.” [State Affairs, 5/2/25]
DOGE Closed Five Social Security Offices In Georgia. According to ABC27, "Here’s the latest list of Social Security Administration offices that have been closed or are in the process of being closed by DOGE: Georgia - Brunswick, Columbus, Gainesville, Thomasville, Vidalia." [ABC27, 3/7/25]