Senator Joni Ernst has done something that Washington rarely does these days — she told the truth. And not just any truth, but one that should make every hardworking American furious. We are talking about billions of your tax dollars being flushed down the federal government’s drain because no one bothered to ask basic questions like: “Is this person real?” and “Are they alive?”
In a recent report, Senator Ernst showed just how broken and careless our federal agencies have become. During the pandemic, the government rushed to hand out loans through programs like the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). While the goal of helping small businesses stay afloat was a good one, the way it was handled was a disaster. Instead of strict oversight, we got lazy bureaucrats rubber-stamping anything that came across their desks.
How bad did it get? Senator Ernst said people were actually using photos of dolls — yes, dolls — as identification and still got PPP loans approved. Barbie and Ken apparently got a piece of your paycheck. And it doesn’t stop there. Some applicants claimed to be over 115 years old. One supposed borrower was listed as 157 years old and still managed to collect $36,000 in federal funds. In total, more than 3,000 fraudulent applications were approved, racking up $333 million in stolen taxpayer money. That’s not just waste. That’s robbery.
It gets worse. According to Ernst, federal agencies made $162 billion in improper payments in just one year — fiscal year 2024. That’s not a small accounting error. That’s money that could have repaired roads, helped veterans, improved schools, or stayed in your wallet where it belongs.
And what did we get for all that waste? Well, apparently, part of it went to fund Iraqi Sesame Street. Yes, while our own children face crumbling schools and rising costs, our government funded puppet shows in Iraq.
Here’s what should really make you mad — all of this could have been avoided if someone had just asked four basic questions. A report from the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee said $79 billion in fraud could have been stopped by simply verifying a Social Security number, checking if the name and birthdate matched, and confirming the person was alive. That’s it. Four questions. But no one was asking them because common sense is in short supply inside the Beltway.
Senator Ernst isn’t just pointing out problems. She’s offering solutions. Her new bill, called the “Doge in Spending Act,” puts in place real safeguards. It would require the government to ask those four simple questions before handing out taxpayer money. It’s not complicated. It’s not expensive. It’s just smart.
This isn’t about politics. It’s about responsibility. Your tax dollars should be treated with respect, not thrown around like Monopoly money. But in today’s Washington, too many politicians are more concerned with growing government than protecting the people who fund it.
Senator Ernst deserves credit for sounding the alarm. Now it’s up to the rest of Congress to wake up, stop the madness, and start doing their jobs. Enough is enough. American families are working too hard for their money to be wasted on fraud, puppets, and fantasy loan applicants straight out of a toy box. It’s time to clean house.