US Election 2024

Top lawmaker says issues that spurred DOGE’s genesis came full circle with Trump fixes: ‘Already winning’

The Senate’s lead “DOGE” lawmaker, Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, revealed on Friday that her efforts to improve government efficiency are starting to show results. The Agriculture Department recently implemented a return-to-work mandate, which was prompted by a whistleblower who contacted Ernst’s office in 2024.

Ernst, who grew up on a farm, emphasized the importance of hard work and the challenges faced by those in agriculture and manufacturing sectors who cannot work from home like white-collar employees. President Donald Trump echoed these sentiments, stating that federal workers are less productive when working remotely and that it is unfair to those who work from job sites.

The whistleblower’s claim that USDA’s offices in Washington, D.C. were largely vacant led Ernst to push for policy changes that eventually became known as “DOGE,” a term popularized by Elon Musk. She took action to end the abuse of telework by federal employees and ensure that the agency was serving Iowa farmers effectively.

Acting Agriculture Secretary Gary Washington issued a memo directing senior staff to work from their offices full-time, marking a significant step in Ernst’s efforts to improve government efficiency. She views this memo as a culmination of her earlier concerns and initiatives.

Ernst’s advocacy for government efficiency was recognized during a meeting with President Trump and Elon Musk at Mar-a-Lago. She had previously identified areas of government waste and abuse that could result in $2 trillion in savings if addressed. The House Budget Committee highlighted the Biden administration’s mass telework policies, which they claim have led to complacency in the workforce and unnecessary costs for taxpayers.

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According to a report from the Government Accountability Office, only 11% of USDA office space was occupied in the first quarter of 2023, with 75% of available space across federal agencies remaining empty since the pandemic. Ernst’s initial investigations into USDA office space utilization were based on the whistleblower’s claims, making the recent return-to-work mandate a significant development.

Representative Aaron Bean, chairman of the DOGE Caucus, commended Ernst’s efforts and stressed the importance of a government operating at full capacity. He supported President Trump’s executive order requiring federal employees to return to work as a step towards improving government efficiency.

Ernst’s achievements include the passage of legislation to sell the Wilbur J. Cohen Federal Building and amendments requiring agency oversight of telework. These efforts have been instrumental in streamlining government operations and reducing waste.

The White House was contacted for comment on this story but did not respond by the time of publication. Charles Creitz, a reporter for Fox News Digital, covered this story. He joined Fox News in 2013 and specializes in media, politics, and culture. Your feedback and story tips can be sent to charles.creitz@fox.com.

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