Senator Joni Ernst, representing Iowa in the U.S. Senate and chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, recently used her social media platform to voice concerns over government spending and call for greater accountability.
On February 12, 2026, Ernst addressed Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, writing: “.@GovTimWalz needs to step up. Taxpayers are sick and tired of their dollars being funneled into fraudsters’ pockets. There must be accountability for these crimes.”
Later that day, she posted another message criticizing certain federal expenditures: “Does spending defense dollars on octopus hypnosis and monkey mind reading make our country safer? It sounds bananas, but apparently the Biden administration thought so — but hid the cost to taxpayers. My COST Act ends this monkey business by putting a public price tag” (February 12, 2026).
In a subsequent post on the same date, Ernst declared: “I’m declaring war on waste. Let’s audit the Pentagon!”
According to her official website, Ernst has served as a senator from Iowa since her historic election in 2014 as both the first woman from Iowa in the U.S. Senate and its first female combat veteran. Her office provides constituent services throughout Iowa and assists with casework involving federal agencies (source). She also serves on several key committees including Armed Services; Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry; Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; along with leading Small Business and Entrepreneurship (source).
Her recent statements continue her focus on government transparency and oversight.
