Additional Coverage:
- Joni Ernst, head of the Senate’s new DOGE caucus, wants to make the federal establishment ‘squeal’ through trillions in cuts (newsbreak.com)
Iowa Senator Joni Ernst will lead the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) caucus in the Senate. She aims to cut government spending significantly.
The DOGE caucus will consist of several Republican senators, including John Cornyn, Ted Budd, and Mike Lee. Their goal is to work in conjunction with the DOGE department, led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.
Ernst believes government waste is rampant and points to projects like California’s high-speed rail as examples. She also criticizes federal employees for preferring remote work.
Ernst claims to have identified $2 trillion in potential savings that could be implemented immediately. However, budget experts question whether DOGE has the authority to make such drastic cuts.
The exact function and powers of DOGE remain unclear. Trump has stated that it will focus on reducing bureaucracy and cutting spending, while Musk seeks to staff it with “small-government revolutionaries.” Ramaswamy suggests eliminating entire federal agencies.