Last week, Senate DOGE Caucus Chair Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) defended President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from an attempt by Democrats to end the cost-saving effort and prevent it from eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse.
Ernst highlighted DOGE’s work that has already saved $714 per taxpayer and detailed how this is just the start of downsizing government and getting Washington to better serve the American people.
Ernst’s full remarks:
“Since January, DOGE has saved $115 billion, which amounts to $714 per taxpayer.
“Some of DOGE’s findings include:
“The Small Business Administration gave out more than $300 million in loans to thousands of children 11 years old and younger;
“Agencies were paying for tens of thousands of unused software licenses; and
“The Department of Veterans Affairs was paying $56,000 to water eight plants for five years.
“Thanks to DOGE, that contract was canceled, now the plants will be watered for free.
“While DOGE keeps delivering more savings every day, Democrats are more upset by the effort to stop wasteful spending than by the misuse of tax dollars.
“As I always say, if you can’t find waste in Washington, you are not looking.
“I urge my colleagues to vote no on this amendment – we can’t afford more Washington business-as-usual that gave us $36 trillion of debt!”
