Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) is pressing the Trump administration to take advantage of the ongoing shutdown, suggesting more than $2 trillion in federal spending reductions in a detailed letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought that lists a wide range of programs and expenses for potential cuts.

In a message on X, Ernst previewed the effort, writing, “I heard @russvought was looking for waste to cut during the Schumer Shutdown. Here is a list of non-essential government expenditures that would save taxpayers more than $2 trillion.” Her October 3 letter to Vought lays out a sweeping list of proposed reductions spanning multiple agencies and programs.

The Iowa senator first called for rescinding more than $23 billion in unspent COVID-19 relief funds identified b

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