Joni Ernst
RKatie Bailey is as smart, hardworking, and principled as they come. She knows how to make Washington work, and she does it all while being an amazing mom. Great pick by @POTUS to lead White House Leg Affairs! https://t.co/o48eYD8R3s
Why are taxpayers still paying for an abandoned federal building that has barely ever been used? My DISPOSAL Act would empower @USGSA to sell this and other costly, unused properties. https://t.co/SCpXDSw7Gt
Thank you, @POTUS and @epaleezeldin, for delivering on your promises to Iowa farmers by FULLY relocating all exempted biofuels! This is a major step forward in expanding domestic markets, strengthening Iowa’s farm economy, and lowering costs for consumers. Now, let’s build on this momentum and get year-round E15 across the finish line! 🌽
Happy #NationalFarmersDay, to every farmer and rancher in Iowa and across the nation! While many don’t often see all the hard work you put in, every one of us depends on it! Thank you for your hard work and your dedication to feeding, fueling, and clothing the world! 🌽🌾🐮👨🌾
Thank you, @POTUS, for protecting taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars! 👏🏼 It’s pretty simple. Taxpayer dollars should not be going to dead people.
Who wants to become a billionaire? 💵 Tune in to The Business Briefing at 9:40am today to learn how fraudsters I recently exposed made millions through health care fraud. 👇🏼
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst's (R-Iowa) Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act is now law, signed today by President Trump. It requires the federal government to publicly report every project that is $1 billion or more over budget or five or more years behind schedule. The law arrives as Ernst exposes five new boondoggles that together total nearly $100 billion over budget. These boondoggles are in addition to those she exposed in her 2025 Off the Rails report, which found $162.9 billion in cost overruns on federally funded projects. "Washington math doesn't add up, but my Billion Dollar Boondoggle law will restore accountability to its shady accounting. Taxpayers deserve this transparency, and it will protect them from being put on the hook for hundreds of billions of dollars sunk into failed and mismanaged projects plagued by massive cost overruns and never-ending delays," said Sen. Ernst. "While government boondoggles abound, the term is now officially in the law books for the first time. No politician wants their prized pet project to carry that label, but now there's no escaping it," Sen. Ernst added. The five additional boondoggles: F-35 Modernization (Department of War): $89.5 billion over budget since being rebased in 2012, increasing from $395.7 billion to $485.2 billion, and five years behind schedule, now expected in 2031. Hudson River Tunnel (Department of Transportation): $3 billion over budget, increasing from $12.7 billion to $15.7 billion, and three years behind schedule, now expected in 2038. Rebuilding Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge (Department of Transportation): Up to $3.5 billion over budget, increasing from as low as $1.7 billion to as high as $5.2 billion, and two years behind schedule, now expected in 2030. Saturn Dragonfly Spacecraft (NASA): $2.5 billion over budget, nearly quadrupling from $850 million to $3.35 billion, and more than two years behind schedule, now expected in July 2028. Palo Alto VA Medical Center (Department of Veterans Affairs): $1.2 billion over budget, increasing from $450.3 million to $1.6 billion, and 21 years behind schedule, now expected in 2036 instead of 2015. The law builds on the Trump administration's efforts to rein in runaway project costs. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has been leading the way, providing Ernst with the Department's data on over-budget and delayed projects, and pulling $4 billion in unspent federal funding from California's high-speed rail project. Ernst led the bill in the Senate with Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), and Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) championed it in the House. The bill passed both chambers of Congress before heading to the President's desk. Hassan and Miller-Meeks joined Ernst in celebrating the new law. “Granite Staters deserve to know that their hard-earned tax-dollars are being spent responsibly,” said Sen. Hassan. “This commonsense, bipartisan bill will give the public greater visibility into how their tax dollars are being used and it will help Congress identify wasteful spending. I am pleased to see this bill signed into law and I will continue working with my colleagues of both parties to protect taxpayer dollars and increase government transparency.” “Washington has gotten far too comfortable wasting the taxpayers’ money, and that ends with transparency and accountability,” said Rep. Miller-Meeks. “Senator Ernst and I worked together to give Congress and the American people greater visibility into federal projects that go over budget and fall behind schedule. I’m proud to see our bipartisan Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act signed into law, and I thank Senator Ernst for her partnership in getting this across the finish line. Taxpayers work too hard for their money to see it wasted in Washington, and they deserve to know that every dollar is being spent responsibly.” ###
🚨It’s a bad day for boondoggles, and a great day for taxpayers!🚨 With one stroke of @POTUS's Sharpie, my bipartisan Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act is now LAW. 🖊️ Any federal project $1 billion over budget or 5 years behind schedule? Washington has to tell you. Here's why that matters 🧵👇
Three years ago today, I awoke in the Middle East to the horrific news that Israel was under attack by Iran-backed Hamas terrorists. That day, Hamas murdered nearly 1,200 innocent people, including 46 Americans, and took 12 of our fellow citizens hostage. Days later, I went into Israel to stand with our ally. As Co-Chair of the Abraham Accords Caucus, I will continue to stand with our regional allies to promote stability and eradicate Iran-backed terrorism.
And I've ID'd 5 MORE boondoggles, about $100 billion over budget, including: 🏥 A VA hospital running 21 years late ✈️A fighter jet program $89.5 billion over budget We’re $40 trillion in debt, the days of boondoggle budgeting are OVER! Read more here: https://t.co/JgIdTJl8pc
A billion dollars over budget isn't a rounding error. It's a train wreck. 🚂💥 Five years behind schedule isn't a delay. It's a derailment. My Off the Rails report found $160+ billion in overruns on just a handful of projects. LINK: https://t.co/lRsYvdvpsm
Exhibit A: California's high-speed rail. 🚄 Nearly $100 billion over budget, years behind schedule, and not a single track laid. @SecDuffy pulled $4 billion in federal funds. Last stop for this gravy train. https://t.co/GtGFyAKKGs
RED OAK, Iowa – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, today announced her Small Business of the Week: Doe a Deer of Guthrie County. Throughout the 119th Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in each of Iowa's 99 counties. “Doe a Deer has woven creativity, hard work, and community into every aspect of its business,” said Chair Ernst. “From designing notepads, towels, to selling products to over 500 retailers worldwide, Regan has built a thriving small business rooted in quality, customers, and sisterhood.” From a young age, Regan, the founder and owner of Doe a Deer, was drawn to the patterns and designs she saw on everything from linens, cookbooks, to product packaging. She carried that creativity into her career as a graphic designer but soon wanted an outlet for her own ideas. Regan began designing her own products and selling them at a local Small Business Saturday craft show. Encouraged by the response, Regan rented a storefront and turned her passion for design into a full-time job. Today, Doe a Deer is located on Main Street in Stuart, Iowa. The woman-owned business is run by Regan and her team of 11 employees, who work diligently to create trendy designs for their products. Doe a Deer offers a variety of products, including kitchenware, blankets, gifts, spices, books, and self-care items. Their wide variety of products allows the business to reach several audiences. Stay tuned as Chair Ernst continues to recognize outstanding Iowa small businesses with her Small Business of the Week award. ###
A 70-year-old man was tragically killed by an illegal immigrant who was allegedly driving without a license. Thanks to Sarah’s Law, signed by President Trump, ICE was able to immediately take custody of the suspect after the incident. I’m praying for the victim’s family, loved ones, and everyone who knew him. I also thank the first responders and federal agents who took swift action. https://t.co/hmRLOi0EV1
WASHINGTON – In a May letter to U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), the IRS revealed that 10,100 million-dollar earners collected nearly $97.4 million in unemployment benefits in 2024 alone. The top occupations among the jobless millionaires included engineers, software engineers, financial professionals, lawyers, executive managers, doctors, and consultants, concentrated in California, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Washington. On Monday, The Washington Times reported the IRS’s data, released in response to an Ernst inquiry. Read the story here. In a companion op-ed, Ernst called out the "freebies for freeloading fat cats": "In 2024 alone, 10,100 million-dollar earners received nearly $97.4 million in unemployment compensation. That amounts to each being paid $9,650, roughly the cost of a new Rolex watch. Coincidentally, it is also the amount spent on healthcare by a typical Iowan over the course of a year." "From the fields in Iowa to the battlefields in Iraq, I have worked my entire life. Unlike most of my colleagues in the Senate, I am not a millionaire. I know what it is like to live paycheck to paycheck." "Because unemployment programs are funded primarily by taxing employers, this federal mandate is effectively a reverse Robin Hood tax that takes from struggling small businesses to give to the idle rich and self-sufficient." "My message to the affluent finance bros being cut off from Uncle Sam's unemployment trust fund is simple: If you are fortunate enough to make $1 million or more per year without having to work, then you should be counting your blessings — not collecting jobless benefits." Read the full op-ed here. Background: Ernst has led the fight to end jobless payments to millionaires since 2020. Last year, the Senate unanimously passed her Ending Unemployment Payments to Jobless Millionaires Act as an amendment to the One Big Beautiful Bill, which President Trump signed into law. The law is now in effect, barring anyone earning $1 million or more from collecting unemployment benefits. The Congressional Budget Office estimates it could save as much as $100 million over the next decade. ###
America leads the world in AI innovation—from protecting our warfighters to improving everyday life. 🤖 As China races to advance AI, we must keep America at the forefront while protecting Americans from emerging threats. Yesterday’s hearing was an important step toward responsible guardrails that keep Americans safe without stifling innovation.
Iowa families, farmers, and small businesses should not be forced to bankroll new power plants, transmission lines, and grid upgrades. I’m disappointed that Senate Democrats refused to protect hardworking families from Big Tech companies who can afford to pay their own way.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) criticized Senate Democrats for blocking the passage of the Ratepayer Protection Act, legislation she cosponsored to help protect Iowa families and small businesses from higher electric bills. “In Iowa, we believe in a simple rule: you plug in, you pay up,” said Ernst. “We can welcome the jobs and investment data centers bring to our state, but Iowa families shouldn’t be stuck with Big Tech’s power bill. I’m disappointed that Senate Democrats refused to protect hardworking families from Big Tech companies who can afford to pay their own way. Watt’s fair is fair—and passing these costs on to Iowans isn’t.” The bill would require state utility regulators and nonregulated utilities to consider a standard making qualifying data centers responsible for the full additional cost of power generation, transmission, and distribution upgrades needed to serve them. Read the bill here. ###
🚨@POTUS called it: the Federal Reserve's renovation is $1 billion over budget, per @OIGFedCFPB. Mr. President, my bill shining a spotlight on every billion-dollar boondoggle is sitting on your desk. Grab a Sharpie. ✍️ Let's get a full accounting of Washington's boondoggles and tally the receipts!
🚨Up next: sending scammers to the slammer!
America must lead the world in AI. We cannot afford to slow American innovation while China races ahead. https://t.co/zSNGUCcOYZ
I am grateful to President Trump for securing this historic deal that will create thousands of jobs for Iowans! This new steel plant will strengthen U.S. manufacturing and make “Made in America” the norm! https://t.co/t6CoZ9lF15
Fraudsters are stealing more than $1.4 billion from taxpayers every single day! Tune in to the Senate floor today and hear why it’s time for Congress to pass my Protecting American Taxpayers Act to save hardworking Americans $240 billion! https://t.co/yoosX65aBM
It’s criminal for the Senate to leave town without passing legislation to stop fraud. Senate Democrats BLOCKED my bipartisan anti-fraud package that would protect taxpayers and save an estimated $240 billion. @SenateDems, what’s the holdup? 🤔 https://t.co/baCNCLZRvz
WASHINGTON – Today, during a Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Disaster Management hearing, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) praised how Super Intelligence (SI), also known as artificial intelligence, helps keep Americans safe while acknowledging Congress’ responsibility to ensure proper guardrails are in place. Ernst questioned Kurt Gaudette on how Congress can better empower SI developers and companies to collaborate to ensure we can deter and respond to cyber-attacks, emphasizing that “AI has been so helpful in medical research and protecting our troops from drone swarms or missile attacks… so we need to keep moving forward. If we pause, we're not going to see China pause.” Watch Ernst’s questioning here. Background: The hearing followed President Trump’s signing of an executive order focused on incorporating “Super Intelligence” (SI) and recognizing the continued advancement of the technological frontier and the opportunities it presents for the American people. The hearing examined the growing risks posed by increasingly capable SI systems, including SI agents acting beyond their intended instructions and the potential for hostile actors to use SI to target critical infrastructure, strategic industries, and government agencies. The hearing featured testimony from: Chris Painter, President of the Model Evaluation and Threat Research Marius Hobbhahn, Co-Founder and CEO of Apollo Research Paul Ohm, Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center Kurt Gaudette, Senior Vice President of Intelligence and Services at Dragos, Inc. Daniel Kokotajlo, Executive Director of the AI Futures Project ###