U.S. Senator Joni Ernst’s two bipartisan bills aimed at increasing transparency in federal government spending advanced on Mar. 18, as the House Committee on Oversight and Reform approved the Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act and the Stop Secret Spending Act. The approval coincided with Sunshine Week, a period dedicated to promoting open government, and sends both bills to the full House for further consideration.
The push for greater transparency comes amid ongoing concerns about how taxpayer dollars are spent by federal agencies. According to Ernst, “Sunshine is the best disinfectant, and it is only fitting my pair of bills passed out of the House Oversight Committee during Sunshine Week.” She added, “As I shine more light on wasteful Washington spending, I’m excited to continuing shepherding these bills to become law, so that our hardworking taxpayers know exactly where their money is going and that it’s not being wasted on pointless projects.”
House Committee Chairman James Comer said, “It’s simple: Americans deserve to know how their hard-earned tax dollars are spent. That’s why I’m proud to support Senator Ernst’s legislation this week to increase transparency and ensure the federal government uses those dollars efficiently, effectively, and with full accountability.”
Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks led the Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act in the House. She said, “Washington bureaucrats have wasted billions of taxpayer dollars on misguided programs while hardworking Americans foot the bill. I’m proud to work with Senator Ernst to expose these billion-dollar boondoggles and bring transparency and accountability back to Washington. I will always fight to protect taxpayers and ensure their hard-earned dollars are spent responsibly.”
The Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act requires public disclosure of any taxpayer-funded project that exceeds $1 billion over budget or is more than five years behind schedule. The Stop Secret Spending Act mandates that all federal spending be publicly disclosed; currently some expenditures are hidden under “Other Transactions Agreements,” which included more than $18 billion in 2025.
According to the official website, Ernst’s office handles constituent services such as casework and facilitating interactions with federal agencies. She leads the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship and participates in several other committees including Armed Services; Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry; and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs according to her official website. Her representation extends across Iowa, offering assistance with casework and responses to public inquiries according to her official website.
Ernst operates within the federal legislative branch as a senator from Iowa according to her official website. Her 2014 election made her both the first woman from Iowa elected to serve in the U.S. Senate and its first female combat veteran according to her official website.
Both bills now await consideration by the full House of Representatives.
