Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) is calling on the Trump administration to slash over $2 trillion in federal waste — from absurd research projects to bloated Biden-era programs — and she’s urging Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought to seize the moment during the ongoing Schumer Shutdown.
“I heard @russvought was looking for waste to cut during the Schumer Shutdown,” Ernst posted on X. “Here is a list of non-essential government expenditures that would save taxpayers more than $2 trillion.”
Her October 3 letter outlines a sweeping set of proposed cuts, giving the Trump team ammunition to gut what she sees as the most pointless, bloated, and corrupt parts of the federal bureaucracy.
Trillions in Unused Funds and Furloughed Bureaucrats
Ernst began by recommending the rescission of more than $23 billion in untouched COVID-19 relief identified by the GAO, along with what she called “trillions” sitting in unspent slush funds. She called on the administration to auction off or consolidate thousands of underused federal buildings — pointing to agencies that still haven’t complied with occupancy rules in the post-COVID era.
She also took aim at the estimated 750,000 “non-essential” federal employees currently furloughed, calculating that taxpayers are shelling out $400 million per day for staffers who aren’t even working. She urged OMB to partner with the Office of Personnel Management to right-size the bloated federal workforce.
Biden’s Green Boondoggles in the Crosshairs
Among Ernst’s clearest targets: the Biden administration’s “green energy failures.” She singled out the $7.5 billion electric vehicle charging program, which has produced only 60 charging stations nationwide. She also blasted the U.S. Postal Service’s $3 billion electric truck purchase, which still hasn’t materialized.
She argued both should be scrapped immediately.
Mascots, Shrimp Treadmills, and Pig Video Games
Ernst didn’t stop at green waste. She revived her famous “silly science” critiques, pointing to government-funded research on shrimp running on treadmills, potato chips shaped like Elvis, and pigs playing video games. She slammed federal promotional spending too, noting over $1.5 billion per year is wasted on government swag and mascots like “Sanctuary Sam” and “Franklin the Fair Market Fox.”
Other taxpayer-funded absurdities Ernst flagged: USDA grants for cricket farming, questionable performance bonuses, and active government credit cards still being used by ex-employees — including at casinos and nightclubs.
Transit Fiascos, Foreign Giveaways, and UN Payoffs
She also took aim at long-failed blue-state transit projects: California’s Silicon Valley subway extension, Maryland’s Purple Line, and Honolulu’s rail system, all of which she says should have their federal funding rescinded. In August, she called on DOT to claw back $14 billion in transit money.
Ernst went after the U.S. contribution to the United Nations too — totaling $15 billion — and said those dollars are being used to fund global plans that undermine U.S. sovereignty. She also demanded an end to taxpayer-backed research in Chinese labs, including the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
Trump’s Shutdown Cuts Already Underway
While Ernst builds her case, President Trump and Russ Vought have already begun using the Schumer Shutdown to chop away at programs Democrats love. Green energy programs are being slashed by $8 billion. Trump paused $18 billion in New York infrastructure projects and froze $2.1 billion in federal funds for Chicago-area transit.
Trump has described the moment as a rare opportunity to take “irreversible” action against what he sees as a corrupted, weaponized bureaucracy. Vought, a key ally, is overseeing major cuts and has signaled more are coming.
As Ernst summed it up in her letter: “This is the time to root out the waste, to stop pretending mascots, swag, and pig video games are worth our tax dollars, and to focus on what truly matters.”
The post Joni Ernst Tells Vought: Cut the Shrimp Treadmills, Mascots, and $2 Trillion in Waste During Schumer Shutdown appeared first on Real News Now.
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