Rep. Jeff Van Drew from New Jersey has been vocal in his criticism of Democrats who are opposing President-elect Trump's border policies. He also emphasizes the importance of Congress in helping to cut spending waste. This article delves into the efforts of Sen. Joni Ernst from Iowa and how she is working towards achieving significant savings in federal spending through various measures.

Saving Taxpayers from Washington's Out-of-Control Spending

Ernst's Letter to DOGE Leaders

In her letter to DOGE leaders Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, Sen. Joni Ernst outlines several ways to cut federal spending. She suggests consolidating federal office space to reduce costs and auctioning off unneeded properties to generate revenue. Currently, the maintenance and leasing of federal office buildings cost a whopping billion annually, along with an additional .7 billion on energy. Moreover, with the federal workforce largely working from home, not a single headquarters of a major government agency or department in the nation's capital is even half full. There are 7,697 vacant buildings owned by the government and another 2,265 that are partially empty. This presents a significant opportunity for savings.Another area she focuses on is auditing the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Her findings show that over 5,800 IRS employees and contractors owe more than million in taxes and are on payment plans, while 860 still haven't paid their overdue taxes. Across the government, there are nearly 150,000 tax cheats who owe .5 billion in unpaid taxes. This calls for a thorough audit to ensure tax compliance.

Cutting Spending on Infrastructure Initiatives

Ernst calls for DOGE to slash spending on several Biden-Harris administration's infrastructure initiatives. The .5 billion EV charging station program has faced criticism due to a lack of progress in building the stations. Only 17 EV stations have been created so far. Additionally, the billion expansion of rural broadband has not seen any actual connections yet. These initiatives need to be reevaluated to ensure that taxpayer money is being used effectively.California's federally-funded transportation projects also come under scrutiny. Projects like the 8 billion California High-Speed Train system, the .3 billion six-mile extension of a subway system from San Francisco to Silicon Valley, and the 1.3-mile extension of San Francisco's Caltrain service, which costs .7 billion, need to be examined for potential savings.

Reining in End-of-Year Spending

Ernst emphasizes the need to rein in federal agencies' spending at the end of a given fiscal year. In Washington, there is a tendency for bureaucrats to go on a spending spree at the end of the year to avoid having their budgets cut back. This leads to wasteful spending, as seen when billion was spent in a single week. By implementing better controls and ensuring that funds are used efficiently, significant savings can be achieved.

Other Areas for Cost Savings

There are other areas where cost savings can be made. Reallocating .6 trillion in unobligated federal dollars sitting in accounts can offset federal borrowing. Preventing millionaires from collecting unemployment benefits and cutting back on "silly science" research projects and government agencies' swag are also measures that can help reduce spending. Additionally, changing the composition of coins could save over million per year, considering that it costs three cents to produce a penny and over 11 cents for a nickel.In conclusion, Sen. Joni Ernst's efforts to cut federal spending through various means are crucial in addressing the nation's debt and ensuring that taxpayer money is used wisely. By implementing these measures, significant savings can be achieved and the government can operate more efficiently.