OKC Standard

Senator James Lankford, representing Oklahoma and serving as the Republican Conference Vice Chair, recently addressed government spending inefficiencies in his first floor event as Vice Chair. As a founding member of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Caucus, Lankford emphasized the need for more efficient use of federal funds.

During his remarks, Lankford stated, "Mr. President, I don’t even know how many times I’ve come to this floor of this Senate to be able to talk about government efficiency." He stressed that making government operations more efficient should not be a partisan issue. According to him, every dollar spent by the government is either collected from taxpayers or borrowed against future generations.

Lankford also highlighted his annual Federal Fumbles report, which points out areas of inefficient spending. He cited examples such as federal funds being used for a drag show in Ecuador and research studies on helmet safety in Ghana. He questioned why taxpayers in Oklahoma should bear these costs: "Why are my folks in Oklahoma being forced to pay for that?"

He noted that publicizing these expenditures often leads agencies to cease funding them. "When we highlight these things, and a little sunshine hits them, suddenly people start backing up," he said.

Lankford proposed eliminating duplication within government functions and revising tax regulations that hinder economic growth. He suggested transferring certain federal projects to state or local governments where appropriate. The aim is for the Department of Government Efficiency to facilitate these changes effectively.

"I'm very pleased that a whole group of colleagues are passionate about this as well," Lankford concluded.