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Trump's DOGE Targets $2 Trillion Cuts; Ernst Promises "Accountability Is Coming"

Nov 27, 2024, 04:47 PM

President-Elect Donald Trump has established a new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), co-chaired by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, aiming to cut government waste and inefficiency and "drain the swamp." Senator Joni Ernst, chair of the Senate DOGE Caucus, has sent a proposal outlining up to $2 trillion in potential spending cuts to DOGE leaders, declaring "Accountability is coming." The plan includes $15.7 billion tied up in empty federal buildings and billions in stalled infrastructure projects such as a $7.5 billion electric vehicle charging program. DOGE plans to audit federal agencies, starting with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which was expanded under President Biden. Musk confirmed that DOGE will audit the IRS to streamline operations and increase transparency. The department is targeting "mass reductions," potentially deleting some agencies outright, and will work with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to address the $7 trillion debt. Ramaswamy mentioned there are several "low-hanging fruit" opportunities to weed out waste through executive action. The initiative is expected to lead to significant reductions in government spending and the potential elimination of certain agencies.