(U.S. Senator James E. Risch Press Release, January 22, 2025)
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), the newest member of the Senate Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Caucus, introduced the Zero-Based Budget Act to reduce the more than $36 trillion of debt held by the general public and curb unjustified spending at the federal level.
With the introduction of this legislation, Risch is leading Senate efforts to rein in wasteful spending and tackle the national debt crisis.
“The reckless fiscal policies of the last four years are a crushing burden on future generations of families and taxpayers. Continued spending at these levels puts America into an increasingly dangerous financial situation that will leave our country, and our children, vulnerable,” said Risch. “My Zero-Based Budget Act allows Congress to save taxpayer dollars and get federal agencies back in line. As a member of the Senate DOGE Caucus and with this legislation, I am demanding all federal agencies justify their spending levels and identify areas to cut. We must get America back on track.”
Risch is joined by U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) in introducing the Zero-Based Budget Act.
The Zero-Based Budget Act would:
- Require federal agencies to provide a zero-based budget every 6 years;
- Reduce spending levels by 2 percent;
- Remove the assumption that current activities and funding are automatically continued; and
- For national security purposes, exempts the Department of Defense and the National Nuclear Security Administration from these requirements.
As a member of the Senate DOGE Caucus, Risch will work with President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to identify fraud, waste, and abuse of taxpayer dollars, cut spending to decrease the national debt, and promote economic growth by cutting red tape.
