FIRST ON FOX: At the second meeting of the Senate Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Caucus, Chairwoman Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, led discussions on how they can most effectively and quickly begin to reduce the waste in government.
The new 18-member caucus met Thursday morning and strategized on how to avoid some of the pitfalls that other similar efforts have run into.
“The Senate DOGE Caucus is setting out on day one of the Trump administration to downsize government,” Ernst told Fox News Digital in a statement. “Biden’s bulge has created a target-rich environment to find ways to eliminate waste and make the bureaucracy accountable to the people. Now is the time for results, and after today, I am confident that we “We have plans in place to serve as action for Congress to meet taxpayers’ expectations.
OHIO GOVERNMENT DEWINE PICKS LT GOV TO FILL VACANT SEAT OF VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT JD VANCE
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, is chair of the DOGE caucus. (Reuters)
For years, Ernst took inventory of government waste, which gave the caucus a list of places to start eliminating excessive bureaucracy and making government more efficient.
Some specific targets of the caucus are federal telecommuting, IRS agents with unpaid taxes, and U.S. funding going to foreign labs with little accountability.
Caucus members determined how to address these items in a way that ensured they could get “multiple bites at the apple,” according to Ernst’s office.
DESANTIS ANNOUNCES HIS PICK FOR SENATE NOMINATION AFTER RUBIO’S PLANNED RESIGNATION
Ernst audited the IRS herself. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
To do this, Republican deputies plan to take advantage of tools such as the Congressional Review Act (CRA), which can be used to overturn the rules put in place by federal agencies, and budget reconciliation.
The budget reconciliation process is already seen as a key tool for Republican goals on tax and immigration policy, and the party has further indicated it may pass two reconciliation bills this year. One senator even suggested they could introduce three such bills in the 119th Congress.
The advantage of passing legislation through budget reconciliation is that it requires a simple majority and is not subject to the 60-vote threshold of the legislative filibuster. Likewise, the CRA is not liable for filibustering.
CONFIRMATION DELAYS INCREASE FOR TRUMP CANDIDATES AS BUREAUCRACY DELAYS IN FEDERAL OFFICES
The Republicans plan to hit the ground running with their new majorities. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
The caucus also plans to work with President-elect Trump on executive orders to combat government waste.
The 18 members of the caucus serve on a number of different Senate committees, giving them a comprehensive picture of where the most waste is found.
DEM SENATOR WHO FAILED HEGSETH’S QUALIFICATIONS SUPPORTS DOD SEC WHO OVERSEEN THE BACKED AFGHAN WITHDRAWAL
President-elect Trump has tapped Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy, right, to lead DOGE. (Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Last year, Ernst used the opportunity to outline a plan to cut $2 trillion of what she considers waste. In it, she recommends selling empty government buildings, auditing the IRS and firing officials who owe taxes, and cutting back on seemingly random or “dumb” studies conducted by the government, among other things.
DOGE was previously announced by Trump, who tapped billionaire Elon Musk and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the new advisory council aimed at reducing government waste.
