Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa is taking the lead in a new initiative aimed at reducing federal spending and bureaucracy.
The “Department of Government Efficiency DOGE caucus, formed in the US Senate, has set its sights on significant spending cuts across federal programs.
Ernst, who has been a vocal advocate for reducing government waste, announced the formation of the caucus with a clear goal: to make the federal establishment “squeal” through drastic budget cuts.
The focus of the DOGE caucus will be on eliminating waste, fraud, and inefficiency in federal spending, with Ernst citing examples like California’s high-speed rail project, which has faced delays and cost overruns despite receiving billions in federal funding.
Additionally, Ernst criticized remote work policies for federal employees, claiming they contribute to reduced productivity.
The caucus will be co-led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who share Ernst’s vision of dramatically reshaping government operations. However, experts have raised questions about the ability of DOGE to enact such extensive changes, given its uncertain authority and limited scope under the Trump administration’s second term.
Despite these challenges, Ernst and her allies in the Senate remain committed to pushing forward with their vision for a leaner, more efficient federal government, which includes exploring up to $2 trillion in potential savings.
The newly formed DOGE Senate caucus also counts Senators John Cornyn, Ted Budd, Mike Lee, Rick Scott, Roger Marshall, Eric Schmitt, and James Lankford among its members.