The co-founder of the DOGE Caucus introduces two bills to initiate waste reductions during the Trump administration.

On Tuesday, Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., will introduce a legislative package aimed at reducing government waste related to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading the charge for this initiative as a member of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Caucus.

On Tuesday, the Oklahoma Republican will present two bills to the public for the first time: one to combat unemployment fraud and another to increase the timeframe for prosecuting COVID-19 recovery fund fraud.

Lankford stated that improving government efficiency is not a partisan issue but an American issue. Fraudsters have been able to evade consequences due to loopholes in the law, resulting in billions of dollars in COVID recovery and Unemployment Insurance payouts. Taxpayers have been left to cover the costs. It is time for an end to the decades of government waste.

Unemployment agencies would no longer be required to restart payments within two weeks if they are appealed, allowing states to halt payments to fraudulent claimants.

The proposed bill aims to broaden the timeframe for certain pandemic-related programs, including the Coronavirus Relief Fund, Economic Impact Payments, and Unemployment insurance, to all of them.

The Government Accountability Office Comptroller Eugene Dodaro endorsed the bill addressing COVID relief fraud, as per Lankford's office.

Lankford's office stated that he is pleased with the bill's extension of the statute of limitations for pandemic unemployment insurance program fraud, as requested by the Inspector General community.

"This bill, if enacted, would grant our oversight partners and law enforcement more time to investigate federal fraud in these programs and hold individuals responsible to the American people."

In November, Trump announced that Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy would lead a proposed advisory board aimed at eliminating government waste.

"These two Americans will help my Administration eliminate bureaucracy, reduce regulations, cut unnecessary spending, and reorganize federal agencies, which is crucial to the 'Save America' movement," he stated.

In the House and Senate, caucuses were established, with Reps. Aaron Bean, Pete Sessions, and Blake Moore leading the proceedings, while Sen. Joni Ernst presided over the Senate caucus.

Ernst is a co-sponsor of Lankford's COVID fraud bill.

At an October rally, Elon Musk stated that he believed DOGE, which Trump officially announced later, could reduce government spending by trillions.

At the time, Musk stated that he believed we could accomplish at least $2 trillion.