Earlier this week, Representative Aaron Bean (R-FL) launched the Congressional Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Caucus, which aims to supplement the incoming Trump Administration's eponymous government division. He discussed this in a recent appearance on Fox News, suggesting that "the iron is hot" and that more Congressmen will join the caucus as waste is uncovered.
Host Trace Gallagher began the discussion by highlighting bizarre studies conducted with federal funding, including a 1970s study testing the effect of tequila versus gin on sunfish, a 2015 study conducted by the University of Kentucky on the impact of cocaine on Japanese quail mating, and another study to determine if Neil Armstrong said, "one small step for man" or "one small step for a man," which was ruled "inconclusive."
"Trace, you forgot $1.5 million to see the effect of yoga on goats," Rep. Bean replied, "the list goes on enough. It is time to start slashing and cutting and eliminating and becoming more efficient. People are ready."
Gallagher cited a post from X (formerly Twitter) suggesting the Department of Agriculture (DOA), designed for 7,400 people, only has 456 workers on average in the building per day. This prompts him to ask Rep. Bean if the DOGE Caucus intends to "go through with a fine-toothed comb, or is it a 30,000-foot view first, and then you kind of hone in?"
"We are going to try to do it all," the Florida Congressman answered, "And first of all, we have invited all members of Congress to be a part of this caucus. There is great excitement right now; the iron is truly hot, and now is the time to strike. We think the more people that join us, the greater we can multiply our efforts. There is something for everybody to do. There is waste wherever you look. How about just people in DC, federal workers going back to their office? Right now, less than 25% of federal workers are actually working full-time back at their office. So we have got lots of work to do."
