Ernst Shines the Light on Government Spending

Read the release on Sen. Ernst's website HERE.

WASHINGTON - In honor of Sunshine Week, Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Chair Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) is shining a light on how Washington spends tax dollars and introduced the Cost Openness and Spending Transparency (COST) Act to require a public price tag on all taxpayer-funded projects.

From monkey mind reading to octopus hypnosis, Ernst exposed how tax dollars are being spent on ridiculous projects but are not being disclosed as required by law. This is even more concerning after Ernst shined a light on the Government Accountability Office's new discovery that $77.5 billion in hidden "Other Transaction Agreements" went out the door between Fiscal Years 2021 and 2025.

Ernst applauded the Small Business Administration for putting a price tag on their spending projects and announced that the Pentagon's Inspector General answered her request and will begin investigating why projects funded with defense dollars are not disclosing the costs to taxpayers.

Watch Chair Ernst's remarks here.

Ernst's full remarks:

"Happy Sunshine Week, folks! Here we are!

"It's the time of the year when we celebrate more sunshine in our lives…and in our government.

"But while we may be getting a little more sunlight every day, Washington still seems to be in the dark.

"The government demands to know exactly how much money all of you earn so it can tax every single cent.

"Yet once Washington gets its hands on your money, it's anyone's guess where it is even going.

"For the past two decades, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act has required government expenditures to be publicly available on a searchable website, USAspending.gov.

"This website is invaluable to the oversight work I do every day, tracking how taxpayer dollars are being spent.

"But tens of billions of dollars are intentionally being omitted from the site every year.

"Another law passed fifteen years ago requires Washington to make an annual list of programs, describing the cost, purpose, and results of each program.

"Turns out, government agencies don't even know how many programs they are running or if they're accomplishing their stated goals.

"More than 2,600 programs have been identified to date, but that doesn't include foreign aid and defense programs, which haven't been tallied yet.

"If Washington doesn't know how many programs there are and if they are actually working, how can the government guarantee your money is being properly spent?

"Simple answer: It can't.

"Folks, without transparency, there is no accountability.

"That is why I've authored a number of laws to shine more light on Washington spending.

"As a result, today, agencies from the Small Business Administration to the Pentagon must put public price tags on projects paid for with your tax dollars.

"A similar law applies to funding from the Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, and Labor.

"This information is intended to allow taxpayers to decide for themselves if the price is right.

"Here is an example of how SBA and taxpayers are supporting the work of our friends at the Iowa Center Women's Business Center.

"These folks are helping women who are trying to start or grow a business in our state, where women now own 43 percent of all businesses.

"As you can see from the price tag on the center's website, taxpayers are providing $150,000 of the costs to make those services available.

"Shouldn't every taxpayer-funded program, project, or product provide a similar price tag?

"Unfortunately, even where this transparency has already been promised, it isn't always happening.

"For example, right here, the Navy sunk tax dollars into conducting octopus hypnosis.

"But you'll put yourself in a trance reading through the results trying to find the cost. Why? Because it's not included.

"The Army is spending taxpayer money on monkey mind reading, but the cost is anyone's guess.

"While I'm sure we're all looking forward to learning what's on the minds of monkeys, I already know what's on taxpayers' minds.

"They are fed up with Washington hiding how the money they worked so hard to earn is being spent, only to learn it's been wasted.

"Well, folks, sunshine is the best disinfectant for discouraging wasteful spending.

"That is why I appreciate SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler for quickly getting her agency into compliance with my COST Act.

"While the Pentagon has been required to disclose the cost of research and development projects funded with tax dollars since 2021, the previous administration did little to make that happen.

"I am announcing today that the department's inspector general will investigate the matter so taxpayers won't have to resort to mind reading or hypnosis to find out how defense dollars are being spent.

"One thing I've learned during my time in the Senate is there is more to making a law than just passing a bill.

"Oversight is absolutely essential to making sure the law is carried out.

"And effective oversight requires access to information.

"I want to recognize the hard work of the Offices of Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office for assisting my work and standing up for taxpayers.

"I also want to express my deep gratitude for the work of Open the Books and the White Coat Waste Project who turn transparency into real-world results that benefit all of us.

"I've learned the hard way that exposing inefficiencies and fighting waste doesn't make you many friends in Washington.

"So, I salute you for your thankless work and extend the gratitude of the taxpayers of Iowa who could not have better friends standing up for their interests in Washington."

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