It also means slashing out-of-control spending and the lawless bureaucracy that makes life worse for so many Tennesseans and Americans.
Support efforts to slash federal spending and reduce the size of the federal bureaucracy.
Occurrences
It also means slashing out-of-control spending and the lawless bureaucracy that makes life worse for so many Tennesseans and Americans.
Evidence
On March 5, 2026, Senator Marsha Blackburn introduced the Federal Loan Systems Modernization Act to create a government-wide shared services lending platform known as 'Lending.gov.' The platform aims to provide a single, modern front door for borrowers and a standardized set of back-end loan management capabilities for participating agencies while preserving each agency’s program authorities.
On February 3, 2025, Senator Blackburn introduced a package of bills known as the 'DOGE Acts' to hold the federal government accountable for managing taxpayer dollars. The package includes the Federal Freeze Act, which directs certain agency heads to implement a one-year freeze on hiring and salary increases and decrease the size of the agency’s workforce by 2% two years after enactment and 5% three years after enactment.
On March 13, 2025, Senators Marsha Blackburn and Mike Lee introduced the Federal Workforce Freedom Act to end collective bargaining agreements between federal agencies and labor unions, aiming to increase productivity and reduce labor costs.
On July 17, 2025, Senator Blackburn supported the Senate's passage of the Rescissions Act of 2025, which aimed to cut $9 billion in wasteful government spending, including funds for biased public media and foreign programs that undermine American values.
On July 1, 2025, Senator Blackburn supported the Senate's passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which aimed to enact President Trump's agenda, including the largest tax cut in history, strengthening border security, and reducing government spending by over one trillion dollars.
On August 2, 2025, Senator Blackburn highlighted the inclusion of key investments for Tennessee in the Senate-passed Fiscal Year 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act and Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.
On November 10, 2025, Senator Blackburn voted for a funding package to reopen the federal government after 41 days of the Schumer Shutdown, emphasizing the rejection of $1.5 trillion in wasteful far-left spending.
On February 3, 2026, Senator Blackburn highlighted the wins for Tennessee in the appropriations package signed into law by President Trump, which included provisions to lower the cost of prescription drugs and ensure Americans with disabilities aren’t forced to retire to keep their Medicaid coverage.
U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn introduced the American Innovation Act to spur new business innovation by expanding tax incentives for offsetting startup costs and removing initial barriers for creating new businesses.
Vote 163 on June 5, 2026: Question was passage of S. 2, as amended, an original reconciliation bill pursuant to S. Con. Res. 33. Vote result: Bill Passed, 52-47. Alphabetical list records Blackburn (R-TN), Yea.
Blackburn introduced the Federal Loan Systems Modernization Act to create Lending.gov. The release says the bill would streamline federal loan programs, stop waste, fraud, and abuse, reduce duplication across agencies, and could save at least $2 billion annually.
Congress.gov lists H.R.4 as Law. Latest Action: July 24, 2025, Became Public Law No. 119-28. The CRS summary states the bill rescinds $9.4 billion in unobligated funds for State, USAID, related agencies, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Vote 411 on July 17, 2025: H.R.4, as amended, passed 51-48. The measure was a bill to rescind certain budget authority proposed by the President on June 3, 2025. The roll call records Blackburn (R-TN), Yea.
Congress.gov lists H.R.1 as Public Law No. 119-21. The CRS summary says the act reduces taxes, reduces or increases spending for various federal programs, increases the statutory debt limit, and addresses agencies and programs throughout the federal government.
Blackburn introduced the DOGE Acts. The release says the package would require federal employees to return to office, move federal agencies, cut bloated federal spending, freeze federal hiring and salaries, reduce agency workforces, and impose 1%, 2%, and 5% across-the-board non-security discretionary spending cuts.
Assessments
Blackburn took same-term Senate action aligned with the pledge, including voting for the enacted 2025 Rescissions Act cutting about $9.4 billion, supporting reconciliation legislation with some spending reductions, and introducing bills aimed at federal workforce reductions, hiring freezes, agency relocation, duplication reduction, and discretionary spending cuts. However, the evidence shows targeted cuts and legislative efforts rather than a broad realized slashing of federal spending or a sustained reduction in the size of the federal bureaucracy. Because she materially supported and advanced relevant efforts but the full broad outcome is not shown as delivered, partial credit is appropriate.
Senator Marsha Blackburn repeatedly sponsored, introduced, and supported legislation aimed at slashing federal spending and reducing the size of the federal bureaucracy. Multiple legislative initiatives—including the DOGE Acts, Federal Workforce Freedom Act, and support for major rescission and spending-cut bills—demonstrate serious and ongoing effort. However, the available evidence shows mainly partial results, as these efforts contributed to targeted cuts or attempted reductions but did not result in a significant, across-the-board slashing of federal spending or bureaucracy size overall. Therefore, the promise can only be considered partially fulfilled. The actions all occurred within the same term and display substantial effort.
The evidence demonstrates that Senator Blackburn consistently supported and introduced legislation aimed at reducing federal spending and government size, including introducing bills to freeze hiring, reduce workforce size, eliminate labor union agreements, cut government spending, and streamline federal loan services. However, these actions reflect partial delivery because while legislative and executive efforts were made, there is insufficient evidence that these efforts resulted in substantial, systemic reductions in federal spending or a significant shrinking of the federal bureaucracy as a whole. The repeated introduction of bills and support for rescission packages show sustained effort, but the broad, high-impact nature of the promise means only partial fulfillment is evident.
Senator Blackburn made multiple legislative and voting efforts in line with her promise to slash federal spending and reduce the federal bureaucracy. Evidence includes introducing bills targeting workforce reductions, supporting large spending cuts, backing rescission packages, and proposing to streamline federal lending and restrict collective bargaining. However, the promise is broad and systemic reductions in federal spending or the overall size of the bureaucracy have not been fully realized or clearly demonstrated in outcome data. Therefore, the fulfillment is partial, but her legislative and voting record show consistent and active effort.