Washington’s spending habits have grown fatter than a holiday turkey, but Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa is wielding a carving knife with her latest push for deep cuts.

Sen. Ernst, the Senate leader of the DOGE caucus, is championing significant reductions in federal waste as the Senate reviews a budget bill already passed by the House. According to The Western Journal, she sees this as a rare chance to slash reckless expenditures and save billions for taxpayers.

Leading the charge, Ernst is backing a White House proposal for $9.4 billion in rescissions—cuts to previously approved budget lines—but she insists the Senate must dig even deeper. Her vision is clear: stop the gravy train that’s been rolling through the Capitol for far too long. It’s a refreshing stance in a city that often treats taxpayer dollars like Monopoly money.

Ernst’s Plan: No More Handouts for Politicians

One of Ernst’s flagship proposals is the ELECT Act, which would eliminate the presidential campaign fund—a pot of roughly $400 million. She’s dubbed it “welfare for politicians,” and frankly, it’s hard to argue when tax dollars are bankrolling attack ads instead of infrastructure.

Ernst also wants to end taxpayer-funded perks like office space and staff for former presidents. Why should the public foot the bill for ex-leaders who’ve already left the stage? It’s a question that deserves a straight answer, not a politician’s sidestep.

Her package doesn’t stop there—it targets what she calls “unemployment for millionaires” by blocking those earning over $1 million from collecting unemployment benefits. If you’re pulling in seven figures, perhaps it’s time to pass on the safety net meant for struggling families. This is common sense, not cruelty.

Transparency and Accountability Take Center Stage

Ernst’s Senate package aligns with a House proposal from DOGE Caucus Chair Aaron Bean of Florida, who pushes for every federal expenditure to carry a clear code identifying its purpose. With the Department of Government Efficiency uncovering $160 billion in fraudulent or uncoded spending, this feels less like bureaucracy and more like a long-overdue audit.

Bean himself emphasized the urgency, stating, “The American people deserve a government that is efficient, accountable and fiscally responsible.” His call to build on House reforms in the Senate is a reminder that this isn’t just about cuts—it’s about trust.

Supporting voices from conservative circles are chiming in as well. Tom Schatz of the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste praised the transparency of the proposed Delivering on Government Efficiency in Spending Act, noting it will help root out mismanagement. It’s a step toward making government less of a black box and more of a glass house.

Cracking Down on Wasteful Programs

Kurt Couchman of Americans for Prosperity echoed the sentiment, saying, “Congress and the President need to know where taxpayer funds go to make coherent budgets.” If lawmakers can’t track the money, how can they claim to represent the people footing the bill?

Other measures in Ernst’s DOGE package include barring unionized federal workers from negotiating on the clock and selling off unused government buildings collecting dust. These aren’t flashy reforms, but they chip away at the bloat that’s been ignored for decades.

Ernst also aims to recover erroneous SNAP payments, ensuring those who received funds due to negligence repay them. It’s a fair ask—taxpayers shouldn’t be on the hook for bureaucratic slip-ups. Precision in welfare programs matters as much as in budgets.

A Call for Fiscal Responsibility

Sen. Mike Lee of Utah reinforced the mission, declaring, “The federal government must be held accountable for every tax dollar spent.” His words carry weight in a political climate where accountability often feels like a buzzword, not a benchmark.

Ernst herself summed up the stakes, stating, “We have a ‘big, beautiful’ opportunity to reduce reckless spending and save billions of dollars.” Her nod to President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” ties this effort to a broader movement for reform, one that’s long overdue in a capital addicted to excess.

Ultimately, these DOGE reforms are a wake-up call for a system that’s been sleepwalking through fiscal irresponsibility. While some may cry foul over cuts, the reality is that tightening the belt now could prevent a financial belly flop later. Taxpayers deserve better than a government that spends first and thinks second.