Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), Chair of the Senate Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Caucus, has unveiled a comprehensive plan aimed at significantly reducing government spending. The proposal, detailed in a 60-page report, focuses on optimizing telework policies and selling off underutilized government properties. This comes ahead of a meeting with DOGE leaders Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who were appointed by President-elect Trump.

Ernst's plan suggests relocating federal employees from Washington D.C. to other parts of the country, leveraging existing expertise in different regions. She proposes legislation mandating that at least 30% of non-security-related employees in D.C. headquarters be moved to field offices. Furthermore, the plan encourages voluntary relocation of staff within the White House and executive branch agencies. A key goal is to achieve a 60% daily occupancy rate in federal buildings, a significant increase from the current average of just 12%.

The report highlights the substantial costs associated with maintaining vacant or underutilized government buildings, estimated at $8 billion annually, with an additional $7.7 billion spent on energy. Ernst proposes auctioning off these properties through the General Services Administration and immediately canceling leases on underutilized spaces, saving $15 million. She also advocates for the passage of the Federal Assets Sale and Transfer Act (FASTA) Reform Act to streamline the sale of unused government properties.

Regarding telework, Ernst suggests tying it to employee performance and calls for increased transparency and accountability. She has identified instances of employees falsely claiming to work in higher-paying locations to inflate their salaries. Ernst plans to present her proposal to Musk and Ramaswamy, who have expressed a focus on using DOGE to identify and eliminate wasteful spending and regulations within the executive branch. This initiative comes as Republicans are poised to control both the White House and Congress with President-elect Trump's return to office in January.