Led by Chairwoman Joni Ernst (R-IA), the Senate Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) caucus has launched a strategic initiative to tackle government waste under the Biden administration. The 18-member group convened to discuss efficient strategies for cutting wasteful spending and improving bureaucratic accountability.
Senator Ernst emphasized the urgency of their mission, citing the "target-rich environment" created by what she calls Biden's excessive spending. The caucus aims to deliver tangible results for taxpayers by streamlining government operations and eliminating unnecessary expenditures.
Drawing upon years of research into government waste, Senator Ernst has provided the caucus with a starting point for identifying areas ripe for reform. Key targets include federal telework programs, IRS agents with outstanding tax liabilities, and U.S. funding directed towards foreign laboratories lacking sufficient oversight.
The caucus plans to utilize various legislative tools, including the Congressional Review Act (CRA) and budget reconciliation, to achieve its objectives. The CRA allows Congress to overturn regulations implemented by federal agencies, while budget reconciliation offers a pathway to enact legislation with a simple majority, bypassing the 60-vote filibuster threshold. Republicans have indicated their intention to utilize budget reconciliation for tax and immigration policy, and the possibility of multiple reconciliation bills has been raised.
Collaboration with President-elect Trump on executive orders targeting government waste is also on the caucus's agenda. The diverse committee representation within the caucus provides a comprehensive understanding of where inefficiencies exist across various government sectors.
Senator Ernst has previously proposed a plan to cut $2 trillion in government spending, which includes recommendations such as selling unused government properties, auditing the IRS, and eliminating what she considers to be frivolous government studies. President-elect Trump has appointed Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a new advisory board, known as DOGE, focused on reducing government waste.
