'Top DOGE' Sen. Joni Ernst is calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to halt new subsidies until President-elect Donald Trump's administration establishes new leadership.
Ernst (R-Iowa) accused the EPA of “scraping through piles of taxpayer money as quickly as possible” ahead of President Biden's departure from the White House. She is also demanding that the EPA fork out important information about grant funding.
“Biden administration officials are competing to see who can scrape together the most money in the final days of his administration,” Ernst told the Post in a statement.
“No matter who wins, there is no doubt that taxpayers will lose. I will work with DOGE to end Washington's 'spend now, think later' mentality that has created $36 trillion in debt. There is.”
In a Thursday letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan, she pointed to the nearly $1.6 billion the EPA awarded last week through the Community Change Grant Program as an example of her concerns, adding that “since its inception, “To date, only $325 million has been awarded through this program.” ”
Hawkeye State Republicans pressed the Commerce Department last week over concerns that the department was rapidly distributing CHIPs and Science Act funding ahead of President-elect Donald Trump's arrival in the White House. .
He also detailed estimates that suggest fraudsters may have secured about $280 billion in funds related to the COVID-19 pandemic in a mad dash to quickly withdraw funds. mentioned.
“American taxpayers should invest in projects that are properly vetted to ensure that their hard-earned money actually advances the national interest, not the personal or political interests of someone in Washington.” You have a right to know that your money is being used wisely and responsibly,” Ernst wrote. Letter to Regan.
She also criticized the EPA for giving $50 million to the Climate Justice Alliance last year and stressed that the alliance does not condemn Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Ernst called on the EPA to preserve records regarding funding decisions under the Inflation Control Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.
The Iowa senators also requested information regarding negotiations between EPA and other entities applying for grants to receive funding through these programs, and whether EPA is facilitating consideration of those grants. , requested information about communications between the EPA and the incoming Trump administration.
President Trump has appointed former Congressman Lee Zeldin (R-New York) to head the EPA.
Mr. Ernst heads the Senate Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) caucus. She vowed to work with DOGE co-heads Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to root out waste in government.
The newspaper reached out to the EPA for comment.
