Tennessee Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn is drafting legislation to stymie growth of the federal workforce and move agencies out of the nation’s capital.
President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to slash government bureaucracy and set up the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, an outside group that will recommend cuts to spending and regulations.
Blackburn plans to join that effort, led by tech mogul Elon Musk and 2024 Republican presidential candidate and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, with her own bill.
“I will be introducing legislation that coincides with @DOGE’s plan to make the federal government more efficient,” Blackburn said on social media Thursday.
The Tennessee senator added, “My DOGE Act will freeze federal hiring, begin the process to relocate agencies out of the D.C. swamp, and establish a merit-based salary system for the federal workforce.”
Blackburn also discussed cost-cutting plans with Ramaswamy on her podcast.
“One of the low-hanging fruit areas is to look at areas under the executive branch, through executive action, that we can actually put an end to a lot of the money that hasn’t been authorized by Congress, but it’s still being spent,” said Ramaswamy, adding DOGE will want to partner with her and others in Congress to reduce the size of government.
Ramaswamy and Musk were on Capitol Hill on Thursday, meeting with lawmakers to detail plans for their government efficiency commission. Republicans are itching to help them, with Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) leading efforts in the Senate and House.
They have already aired grievances about several of their targets, including federal support for high-speed rail and expanded telework for civil servants. Further, Musk told POLITICO’s E&E News on Thursday that he wants to end tax breaks for electric vehicle buyers while dashing between meetings.
Some of these cost-cutting moves are not expected to be well-received by federal employees, especially relocating agencies. Moving EPA headquarters outside of Washington is reportedly under consideration, which union officials warn will lead to staffers leaving the agency. Musk and Ramaswamy have welcomed departures.
