Sioux City Times

Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican representing Iowa, has recently shared several posts on her X (formerly Twitter) account regarding federal spending and government accountability.

On July 16, 2025, Ernst posted criticism of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), stating: "USAID went rogue with your tax dollars."

Later that day, on July 17, 2025, she commented on the status of California’s high-speed rail project. In her post she wrote: "The California high speed rail has finally been DEFUNDED after I exposed this runaway gravy train was $100 billion over budget but had yet to lay a single track. That’s one boondoggle down, many more to go! Stay tuned " The California High-Speed Rail project has faced persistent criticism for cost overruns and delays since its inception in 2008. At various points in its development, reports indicated costs rising far above initial estimates and little progress on construction.

On July 17, 2025, Ernst also addressed funding for media programming abroad. She stated: "Taxpayers will no longer be forced to fund partisan propaganda at NPR or Sesame Street programming in Iraq. A win for common sense, but there’s no time to rest. It is time to prepare another rescissions package!" Funding for international broadcasting initiatives such as NPR and educational programs like Sesame Street have sometimes drawn scrutiny from lawmakers concerned about the use of public funds overseas.

Ernst's recent social media activity reflects ongoing debates in Congress regarding oversight of federal expenditures and efforts to reduce what some lawmakers view as unnecessary or wasteful government spending.