The cost-cutting DOGE movement did little to dull enthusiasm for earmarks in Congress’ most recently enacted funding bills, even among the biggest backers of the mission to rein in federal spending.
Among the congressional DOGE caucuses, created to support the work of Elon Musk’s now mostly defunct Department of Government Efficiency, 29 House lawmakers and two senators brought home $1.1 billion in earmarks from the fiscal 2026 funding bills.
Their winnings underscore the reality of Washington’s latest movement to curb government spending: that even lawmakers who champion budget reductions have incentives to deliver federal dollars back home.
Rep. ...