Controversial Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene resigned effective Jan 5, 2026, just three days after hitting the five-year mark needed for a lifetime FERS pension. Analysts estimate her benefits at ~$8,700/year at 62, totaling a lifetime amount greater than $260,000.
Many critics accused her of grifting and insider trading millions, and Governor DeSantis joined in by calling for a total end to the program she is seemingly taking advantage of, writing, “End congressional pensions!” However, some commenters defended her, noting that thousands of ex-members collect the same benefit.
For context, many have wondered if these remarks were related to the fact that controversial Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) announced her resignation from Congress, just three days after reaching the five-year service threshold.
This is important because it is the retirement time required for a deferred Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) pension eligibility at age 62. This timing has sparked widespread criticism and speculation, with estimates placing her annual pension at ~$8,700 (starting in 2036) and lifetime payout over $260,000.
Starting the controversy, one conservative argued, “Don’t be mad at Marjorie Taylor Greene for collecting her lifetime pension. Be furious that ANY of them can collect it after 5 years. Why are we allowing Congress, our elected representatives, to have different rules and standards than us?”
Reacting, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis offered a novel solution to this scandal. The popular Republican governor suggested, “End congressional pensions!” to thousands of likes and dozens of supportive comments.
Even some Democrats, such as the controversial squad member Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), called foul. “She’s carefully timing her departure just 1-2 days after her pension kicks in and after making millions of dollars insider trading stocks for weapons manufacturers and others while in office,” she claimed.
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Similarly, another user responded to a politician commenting on her retirement, saying, “You mean like the 25 million Marjorie Taylor Greene has profited from Insider trading while being in the House of Representatives, and conveniently, announcing her retirement after she’s qualified for her pension.”
However, some users saw the situation differently. “If I were Marjorie Taylor Greene, I’d just call bullsh*t on the Pension nonsense. Thousands are alive today taking in that pension but MTG is the Devil for meeting criteria to receive it when she reaches the plans retirement age. It’s nonsense. How about we talk about how much Nancy Pelosi will be taking in… or how much Biden is?” one user said.
Offering her own take on her retirement, the Congresswoman complained about Trump, saying, “I have too much self-respect and dignity, love my family way too much, and do not want my sweet district to have to endure a hurtful and hateful primary against me by the President we all fought for, only to fight and win my election while Republicans will likely lose the midterms.”
Still not done, she claimed, “I have fought harder than almost any other elected Republican to elect Donald Trump and Republicans to power … Through it all I have never changed or went back on my campaign promises … America First should mean America First and only Americans First, with no other foreign country ever being attached to America First in our halls of government.”
Watch MTG comment on the Epstein situation here: