Senator Joni Ernst, who represents Iowa in the U.S. Senate and leads the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, used Sunshine Week to highlight her ongoing concerns about government transparency and federal spending.
On March 18, 2026, Ernst posted a series of tweets focusing on government accountability. In her first message, she wrote: “It’s Sunshine Week! Despite laws I’ve written to shine a light on wasteful Washington spending, taxpayers are still being kept in the dark. Like, how much is the Army is spending on monkey mind reading? https://t.co/C3gKabRHAb”.
In a follow-up tweet published the same day, Ernst continued: “The government makes you account for every cent you earn — just to tax it. You deserve to know how your taxes are being spent! The Pentagon Inspector General agreed to investigate why my disclosure law is being ignored. Today, I also introduced the COST Act to put price tags”.
Later that afternoon, she reiterated her position by stating: “Without transparency there is no accountability. This Sunshine Week, I’m shining a light on Washington spending! https://t.co/hQEZMTQWfW”.
According to her official website, Ernst operates within the federal legislative branch as a senator from Iowa and offers constituent services such as casework and assistance with federal agencies (source). She participates in several key Senate committees including Armed Services and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (source). Her representation extends across Iowa, providing responses to public inquiries and facilitating interactions with federal entities (source). Elected in 2014 as the first woman from Iowa to serve in the U.S. Senate and the chamber’s first female combat veteran (source), Ernst has made transparency in government spending one of her legislative priorities.
