EXCLUSIVE: Republican Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst Unveils Bill To Save Taxpayers Billions Over Unused, Misused COVID Funds

Republican Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst has unveiled a new bill to save 7 times more than the first Trump administration rescission package.

Ernst introduced the “Returning Unspent COVID Funds Act” on Thursday, aiming to reclaim more than $65 billion in unspent COVID-19 stimulus funds and return it to taxpayers.

“We are now at four billion dollars cost to our taxpayers with absolutely no results to show for it.”

Sen. Joni Ernst highlights the burden of nonessential federal employees during the government shutdown.@SenJoniErnst @CSalcedoShow pic.twitter.com/ZTMIpVbWOd

— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) October 15, 2025

The legislation follows a July report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which found that as of March 31, $65.5 billion in COVID-related funds remained unobligated, including $23.6 billion in unexpired funds and $41.9 billion in expired funds.

By comparison, the first 2025 rescissions package, the Rescissions Act of 2025, canceled roughly $9 billion in previously approved federal funding. Ernst’s bill aims to curb reckless spending and eliminate “slush funds,” stopping the flow of money that has continued unchecked since the pandemic. (RELATED: House Sends $9 Billion Rescissions Bill To President Trump’s Desk)

“The COVID cash bonanza was a $4.5 trillion all-you-can-eat buffet of waste, fraud, and abuse with the cost eaten by taxpayers,” said Ernst. “At $38 trillion in debt, the federal government shouldn’t have secret slush funds or be spending them on golf carts, bowling parties, and high school drag shows. While too much money has already been sent out the door, we have a chance to return the remaining $65 billion to the American people.”

The bill seeks to rein in wasteful spending of leftover COVID funds, identifying the outdated accounts that could be returned to taxpayers instead of financing projects like drag shows for high school students in New Hampshire, according to a NHJournal report.

California school districts reportedly used federal stimulus funds to purchase an ice cream truck, part of nearly $29 billion in COVID relief money allocated to the state’s public schools and charter schools, according to a Mercury News report. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Joni Ernst Sounds Alarm About Uncle Sam Making Rent On Massive Gov’t Building Portfolio During Shutdown)

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provided $350 billion for the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF), with over $185 million approved for projects related to golf courses, including updating irrigation systems and purchasing golf carts, according to a Economic Policy Innovation Center report.

Ernst bill, if enacted, would cancel all unobligated balances from COVID-related programs, including the ARPA, the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, the CARES Act, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, and the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act.

Billion dollar boondoggles, tele-“working” bureaucrats, and vacant buildings.

Let’s stop this waste! @doge @elonmusk @vivekgramaswamy pic.twitter.com/GDXmOBGGkL

— Joni Ernst (@SenJoniErnst) November 24, 2024

More than $4.5 trillion in COVID-19 relief funds have been distributed across 47 federal agencies as of August 2025, according to a USA Spending report.