Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), Chair of the Senate Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) caucus, has introduced legislation aimed at reducing overpayments and improving financial accountability within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The bill, titled the Snap Back Inaccurate SNAP Payments Act, seeks to address what Senator Ernst describes as significant waste in the program.

The proposed legislation mandates states to recoup SNAP overpayments and reimburse the federal government. It also introduces mechanisms to hold states responsible for payment errors, encouraging better financial management. A key component of the bill involves requiring states to report all payment errors, regardless of whether they exceed the current tolerance threshold.

Senator Ernst's office projects that this legislation could save approximately $91 billion over the next decade. This initiative aligns with the broader goals of DOGE, an advisory board initially envisioned by former President Donald Trump to tackle government waste. The board was originally slated to be led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, although Ramaswamy has since stepped down to pursue a gubernatorial bid in Ohio.

Following Trump's announcement of DOGE, both the House and Senate established corresponding caucuses to support the initiative's objectives of reducing waste, streamlining bureaucracy, and curbing government spending. Senator Ernst has already put forward several bills in line with this mission.