Full Breakdown
DOGE Caucus Lawmakers Secure Over $1.1 Billion in FY 2026 Earmarks
6/22/2026, 10:03:55 PM
Core Event: $1.1 Billion Directed to Districts
In the fiscal-2026 appropriations package, members of the congressional DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) caucus secured $1.1 billion in earmarked spending. The group, comprising 29 House representatives and two senators, allocated funds to projects ranging from water infrastructure in Indiana to a combat-arms training complex in North Carolina. Notable individual awards include Rep. Blake Moore’s (R-UT) $24.6 million, Sen. Mike Rounds’s (R-SD) $208 million, and Sen. Ted Budd’s (R-NC) $41 million.
Background & Context: Earmarks Revived Amid Cost-Cutting Rhetoric
The DOGE caucus was created to advance the agenda of the now-defunct Department of Government Efficiency, which bills itself as a vehicle for “streamlining government operations” and “saving taxpayer money.” Although earmarks were largely dormant after 2011, they were reinstated in 2021 and have grown to $15.8 billion in FY 2026. The practice is limited to 1 % of discretionary spending, split evenly between the House and Senate, with House members permitted to request up to 15 projects each.
Data & Statistics: Allocation Snapshot
- Total DOGE earmarks: $1.1 billion (FY 2026)
- Overall earmark spending: $15.8 billion (FY 2026)
- Top individual recipients:
- Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) – $431.6 million across 159 projects
- Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN) – $251.4 million, chiefly a $213 million lock reconstruction on the Tennessee River
- Caps & limits: 1 % of discretionary spending; House members may request 15 projects, senators have broader leeway.
Official Statements & Responses: Lawmakers Defend the Practice
Rep. Blake Moore argued that earmarks allow “well-spent” projects to remain in Utah rather than being diverted to states with poorer management records. Rep. Erin Houchin emphasized that without district-level advocacy, funds for drinking water, wastewater, transportation, and economic development in southern Indiana would be allocated elsewhere. A spokesperson for Sen. Mike Rounds, Arden Koenecke, described the DOGE process as a “thorough review” ensuring each request is “necessary and beneficial for South Dakota.” Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins highlighted that earmarks “level the playing field” for small, rural communities that can directly petition their representatives.
Criticism & Opposition: Fiscal Concerns and Calls for Reform
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) contended that earmarks “drive the train toward the $38.5 trillion debt… at a rate of $2 trillion a year,” labeling the practice “unacceptable” and proposing an amendment to eliminate earmarks. The Senate rejected Lee’s amendment by a bipartisan 67-33 vote. Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC), a vocal opponent of earmarks, has nonetheless secured a single $41 million military construction award, noting that he only funds projects identified by the Pentagon or Congress.
Why It Matters: Political Incentives and Local Impact
Earmarks provide a direct mechanism for legislators to deliver tangible benefits to constituents, a factor that can bolster electoral prospects, especially in competitive districts. The practice also offers small, rural jurisdictions a channel to obtain federal resources that might otherwise be allocated by career civil servants unfamiliar with local needs.
Verbatim Quotes
- “DOGE sought out wasteful, bureaucratic programs that served little to no real benefit to the taxpayer and impeded federal efficiency and effectiveness,” — Rep. Blake Moore, R-UT
- “This is what’s driving the train toward the $38.5 trillion debt that we’re adding to at a rate of $2 trillion a year. It’s unacceptable, it must end,” — Sen. Mike Lee, R-UT
- “If I don’t advocate for critical drinking water, wastewater, transportation, and economic development projects in southern Indiana, those dollars will simply be spent somewhere else,” — Rep. Erin Houchin, R-IN
- “The DOGE Caucus is intended to target wasteful government spending. Our office has a thorough review process for all congressionally designated spending requests to make certain each project is necessary and beneficial for South Dakota,” — Arden Koenecke, spokesperson for Sen. Mike Rounds, R-SD
- “helped level the playing field for many small, rural communities that can petition their elected representatives directly for funding, rather than leaving the decisions up to federal employees, who, although well-intentioned, may have never been to the communities involved,” — Sen. Susan Collins, R-ME
What’s Next: Legislative Outlook
The upcoming appropriations cycle will likely revisit earmark guardrails, with some members urging stricter limits while others defend the practice as essential for district-level investment. The bipartisan Senate vote on Lee’s amendment suggests continued debate over the balance between fiscal restraint and localized funding.
