Senator Targets Massive Overruns in Federal Projects

Clear Facts

• Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa has released a report identifying over a dozen Department of Transportation projects that are significantly over-budget or delayed.
• The projects in Ernst’s report have collectively exceeded their budgets by at least $162.9 billion, with California’s high-speed rail project alone accounting for $95 billion of the overruns.
• Ernst’s report highlights other government projects with cost overruns, including a Department of Veterans Affairs system and defense projects like Air Force One and Coast Guard icebreakers.

Republican Senator Joni Ernst from Iowa has taken a firm stance against wasteful government spending, unveiling a report that targets several Department of Transportation projects plagued by financial mismanagement and delays. Her report, which spans 50 pages, scrutinizes projects that have either exceeded their budgets by $1 billion or are at least five years behind schedule.

The catalyst for Ernst’s report was a letter from Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, highlighting 14 such projects. Ernst remarked, “Taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to bail out gravy trains and bridges to nowhere because bureaucrats continue to get bamboozled.”

One of the most notable projects in Ernst’s report is California’s high-speed rail, which has gone $95 billion over budget. This project alone contributes significantly to the total $162.9 billion cost overrun identified in the report. Ernst has long been vocal about her opposition to this project, stating, “For years, I’ve been fighting to defund the California crazy train to nowhere.”

The report also sheds light on other problematic projects. The Columbus Crossroads corridor improvements, for instance, are 19 years behind schedule, with costs more than doubling from the initial $801 million estimate. Similarly, the Honolulu Rail Transit Project has seen a $4.8 billion cost overrun and a completion delay extending to 2031.

“If you’re receiving taxpayer dollars, you should expect to be held accountable by the American people,” Duffy emphasized, praising Ernst’s leadership in ensuring fiscal responsibility.

Ernst’s report doesn’t stop at transportation. It also points to a nearly $34 billion overrun in the Department of Veterans Affairs’ electronic records system, which has reportedly caused harm to veterans. Additionally, defense projects like the new Air Force One planes and Coast Guard icebreakers are highlighted for their financial excesses.

Ernst’s commitment to curbing government waste has been a hallmark of her tenure since joining the Senate in 2014. Her recent focus includes addressing the inefficiencies caused by telework and remote work in federal agencies, with potential savings exceeding $2 trillion.

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