Republican senators, led by Senate DOGE Caucus Chairwoman Joni Ernst, have introduced a series of budget proposals aimed at curbing wasteful spending and reallocating taxpayer funds. These initiatives, part of the Senate’s version of the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act,’ seek to save billions by addressing issues such as ‘welfare for politicians,’ misuse of taxpayer money, and inefficient government spending. The proposals include measures such as clawing back funds from unused federal buildings, ending ‘unemployment for millionaires,’ and correcting inaccurate SNAP payments.
The effort, spearheaded by Ernst, involves a range of proposals, including the ELECT Act, which targets funds treated as ‘welfare for politicians.’ These funds, which were previously used for various purposes like Secret Service expenses, are now being re-evaluated for potential clawbacks. Proponents estimate these measures could save hundreds of millions, with the total savings potentially surpassing the current $9.4 billion rescissions package being developed by the executive branch.
Other elements of the DOGE package include proposals to strip former presidents of certain perks, such as additional taxpayer-funded office space, and to require tangible records for all government expenditures to prevent fraudulent use of taxpayer money. Additionally, the plan aims to end ‘unemployment for millionaires’ by disqualifying individuals earning over $1 million annually who lose their jobs from receiving unemployment support. This measure is expected to save an estimated $271 million between 2021 and 2023.
Congressional Republicans have also included provisions to compel the sale of six underutilized federal buildings in Washington, D.C., which could generate annual savings of $400 million. The package also involves efforts to identify errors in SNAP payments, collect overpayments, and hold states accountable for their inaccuracies. In 2023 alone, approximately $11 billion in SNAP funds were overpaid, though smaller individual errors are excluded from the tally.
Despite these efforts, Democrats have criticized the DOGE initiatives and the broader rescissions package. Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., pointed out that a successful version of the latter hasn’t passed since the first Bush administration and warned that it would eliminate Congress’ role in setting spending. Meanwhile, Senate DOGE addendums are expected to work in tandem with the House DOGE Caucus, ensuring a coordinated effort to achieve fiscal responsibility and efficiency in government spending.