**Sen. Joni Ernst to Lead New 'DOGE' Caucus Aimed at Cutting Federal Spending**

Iowa Republican Senator Joni Ernst is set to spearhead a new initiative known as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) caucus in the U.S. Senate. During an interview on Fox News, Ernst reaffirmed her commitment to making the federal establishment "squeal," signaling her intent to push for massive spending cuts.

Ernst, who has served in the Senate for a decade, emphasized her long-standing efforts to reduce government waste. She highlighted her office's "Squeal Awards," a monthly memo that exposes instances of waste, fraud, and abuse within the federal government. Pointing to California's high-speed-rail project as an example, Ernst criticized its substantial federal funding despite being over a decade behind schedule and $100 billion over budget.

The senator also expressed skepticism about the productivity of federal workers who favor remote work, asserting that they might only be working "maybe 10 hours a week." Contrary to her claims, research generally indicates that return-to-office mandates do not necessarily enhance business productivity or value.

Ernst revealed that she had collaborated with Vivek Ramaswamy, presenting him with a plan to achieve $2 trillion in savings. She mentioned that her office's decade-long research provides a clear blueprint for substantial budget cuts.

However, federal budget experts have questioned the feasibility of DOGE’s ambitious goals, especially with Ramaswamy and Elon Musk slated to lead the initiative. Skeptics are unsure about the department's authority to enact such drastic cuts or how the Senate caucus will operate.

The Trump administration has announced that the DOGE will prioritize reducing bureaucracy and implementing significant spending cuts for increased efficiency. Musk aims to recruit "small-government revolutionaries" for the department, while Ramaswamy has voiced intentions to "delete" entire federal agencies.

Announcing the creation of the DOGE Senate caucus, Ernst’s office described it as the "bite" complementing the "bark" of the Trump administration's efficiency efforts. The caucus includes Senators John Cornyn of Texas, Ted Budd of North Carolina, Mike Lee of Utah, Rick Scott of Florida, Roger Marshall of Kansas, Eric Schmitt of Missouri, and James Lankford of Oklahoma.