US Currency (File Photo)

Iowa Sen. Ernst, Texas Rep. Sessions Intro RED TAPE Act: Expose Massive Regulatory Waste

US Currency (File Photo)
US Currency (File Photo)

U.S. Senate DOGE Caucus Chair Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) has introduced the Regulations Evaluated to Determine The Anticipated Price and Effect (RED TAPE) Act, a bill aimed at increasing transparency and preventing federal agencies from using misleading accounting methods to obscure the true cost of regulations on American taxpayers.

The move comes in response to the Biden administration’s issuance of nearly 110,000 pages of regulations in 2024, marking the highest number in history. Between November 2023 and January 2025, the administration implemented 60 final rules, resulting in more than $600 billion in concealed regulatory costs.

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Critics argue that these costs have been masked through the use of “net benefits,” which the administration has cited to justify controversial policies such as energy efficiency standards based on the “Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases.”

“The real threat to our democracy is an unchecked bureaucracy,” Senator Ernst stated. “President Biden’s greenie math has added up to hundreds of billions of dollars in hidden regulatory costs for Americans, and enough is enough. I am putting a stop to this nonsense by breaking out my scissors and cutting through the RED TAPE.”

The RED TAPE Act has gained momentum with the introduction of companion legislation in the House of Representatives by Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas). Sessions emphasized the need for transparency in the rulemaking process, arguing that current practices allow agencies to artificially inflate non-monetary benefits while downplaying the financial burden placed on taxpayers.

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“These regulations come at a cost to taxpayers, and there must be integrity, transparency, and a clear commitment to measurable results for the American people in this process,” said Sessions. “I am proud to work with Senator Ernst on this vital legislation to ensure mismanagement and waste are eliminated from our government.”

The RED TAPE Act has received strong endorsements from government accountability organizations, including the Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA).

Peter Holland, Federal Affairs Director at the FGA, praised the legislation, stating, “This bill puts an end to career bureaucrats hiding the real costs of their regulations behind vague, arbitrary justifications that only increase the size of government. Senator Ernst is leading the charge for transparency in the Senate, cutting through the red tape and protecting the hard-earned tax dollars of everyday Americans.”

As Chair of the Senate DOGE Caucus, Ernst has made cutting government waste a cornerstone of her legislative agenda. She has previously unveiled a $2 trillion plan to reduce federal spending, promote efficiency, and downsize government operations.

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Her efforts have already resulted in notable successes, including the planned sale of the Wilbur J. Cohen building, a 1.2 million square-foot federal facility in Washington, D.C., where an investigation found that only 72 out of 3,341 employees were showing up to work in person.

In addition to the RED TAPE Act, Ernst’s transparency initiatives include a report exposing the excessive number of federal employees working remotely, a practice she argues has contributed to inefficiency and wasteful spending.

The RED TAPE Act is expected to face debate in Congress as lawmakers weigh the balance between regulatory oversight and economic impact. Supporters argue that the bill is necessary to rein in federal agencies and ensure transparency in cost reporting, while critics contend that it could hinder efforts to address climate change and other regulatory priorities.

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For now, Ernst and Sessions remain committed to pushing the legislation forward and providing taxpayers with clearer insights into how federal regulations impact their wallets.

“Americans deserve to know the truth about the financial burden regulations place on them,” Ernst said. “It’s time to bring accountability back to Washington.”

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