Eliminating earmarks is a step in the right direction...
Eliminate congressional earmarks to reduce federal spending and address the national debt.
Occurrences
The resolution condemns the use of earmarks and reaffirms the previous ban on their use, aiming to restore the ban permanently and immediately.
Senator Ron Johnson proposed Amendment 3428 to H.R.3944, aiming to limit disclosures regarding earmarks. The amendment sought to rescind funds for any congressional earmark if the requesting member disclosed the earmark outside of official debate.
Evidence
On November 20, 2025, Senator Ron Johnson co-sponsored S.Res.517, a resolution expressing opposition to congressional spending on earmarks. The resolution condemns the use of earmarks and reaffirms the previous ban on their use, aiming to restore the ban permanently and immediately.
On November 21, 2025, Senator Ron Johnson joined Senators Rick Scott and Mike Lee in introducing a resolution opposing reckless spending in Congress, specifically targeting earmarks. Senator Johnson stated, 'Eliminating earmarks is a step in the right direction.'
On August 1, 2025, Senator Ron Johnson proposed Amendment 3428 to H.R.3944, aiming to limit disclosures regarding earmarks. The amendment sought to rescind funds for any congressional earmark if the requesting member disclosed the earmark outside of official debate. The amendment was not agreed to in the Senate by a vote of 21-75.
On December 21, 2022, Senator Ron Johnson offered an amendment to eliminate all earmarks, totaling $9.8 billion, from a massive omnibus spending bill. He argued that earmarks are 'the gateway drug to the massive deficit spending, to the mortgaging of our children's futures.'
Senator Ron Johnson joined Senators Rick Scott and Mike Lee in introducing a resolution opposing reckless spending in Congress, specifically targeting earmarks. The resolution affirms the need for Congress to rein in overspending to help curb the inflation crisis that is crippling families in the United States.
Senator Ron Johnson co-sponsored S.Res.517, a resolution expressing opposition to congressional spending on earmarks. The resolution reaffirms the previous ban on the use of earmarks and affirms the need for Congress to rein in overspending to help curb the inflation crisis.
Senator Ron Johnson offered an amendment to eliminate all earmarks, totaling $9.8 billion, from a massive omnibus spending bill. He emphasized that earmarks are the gateway drug to massive deficit spending and the mortgaging of children's futures.
In a newsletter titled 'Whistling Past the Graveyard,' Senator Ron Johnson discussed the nation's growing debt and deficit, emphasizing the need for fiscal responsibility. He highlighted the importance of addressing overspending but did not specifically mention earmarks in this context.
Senator Ron Johnson proposed the Eliminate Shutdowns Act to automatically extend funding in two-week increments at prior levels until appropriations are passed, aiming to end government shutdowns. While this addresses government funding processes, it does not directly pertain to eliminating congressional earmarks.
Senator Ron Johnson introduced S.2806, the Eliminate Shutdowns Act, aiming to prevent government shutdowns by automatically extending funding. This legislation focuses on government funding continuity and does not specifically target the elimination of congressional earmarks.
Senator Ron Johnson reintroduced legislation to permanently authorize funding for the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, emphasizing his support for school choice. This initiative is unrelated to the elimination of congressional earmarks.
When I arrived in Congress in 2011, America’s debt and deficit was THE major topic of discussion. Our nation’s total debt was $14.7 trillion and 96% of GDP. Soon it will hit and surpass $39 trillion and 124% of GDP. Within 10 years it will almost certainly exceed $60 trillion.
Today, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) joined U.S. Senators Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) in introducing a resolution opposing reckless spending in Congress. This resolution “affirms the need for Congress to reign in overspending to help curb the inflation crisis that is crippling the families of the United States,” the senators wrote.
Expressing opposition to congressional spending on earmarks. Whereas fiscal year 2022 marked the return of “congressionally directed spending” and “community project funding”, also known as “earmarks”, after a 12-year hiatus; Whereas the return of earmarks marked the return of lawmakers using their powers to circumvent the rules of the Senate in order to direct taxpayer dollars to wasteful projects; Whereas, while Congress has the power of the purse, it must be prescriptive and effective in funding programs, projects, and activities of the Federal Government, which is now more than $38,000,000,000,000 in debt, rather than focus on funding earmarks that are wasteful in nature; Whereas Congress has dramatically increased deficit spending, overseeing more than $12,500,000,000,000 in deficit spending since 2020; Whereas interest payments on the United States national debt have exceeded $1,000,000,000,000 annually; Whereas the Congressional Budget Office projects that between 2025 and 2055, publicly held debt by the United States will increase by $108,100,000,000,000, from $30,100,000,000,000 to $138,200,000,000,000; Whereas Senate Republicans adopted a 2-year moratorium on earmarks in 2010; Whereas Senate Republicans voted favorably for a permanent ban on earmarks in 2019 and reaffirmed that ban in 2021; Whereas former Senator Tom Coburn condemned the use of earmarks as a “gateway drug to overspending” and former Senator John McCain called earmarks “the gateway drug to corruption and overspending in Washington”; Whereas several former Members of Congress and lobbyists have been convicted of crimes related to earmarking; Whereas it is crucial that Congress spend taxpayer dollars wisely and with the best return on investment; and Whereas Congress must stop this reckless Federal spending and corrupt political dealing, start paying down the debt of the United States, and get the United States back on track: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— (1) condemns the use of “congressionally directed spending” and “community project funding”, known as “earmarks”, to direct and appropriate taxpayer dollars in any form; (2) reaffirms the previous ban on the use of earmarks and affirms to restore the ban permanently and immediately; and (3) affirms the need for Congress to reign in overspending to help curb the inflation crisis that is crippling the families of the United States.
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) introduced an amendment to remove earmarks from the $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill. The amendment would eliminate the 7,500 earmarks totaling over $16 billion in the bill. “Earmarks are the gateway drug to massive deficit spending and the mortgaging of our children’s future. Our nation is $31 trillion in debt — America cannot afford irresponsible spending habits. The root cause of so many of our problems is the size, scope, and cost of the federal government. Eliminating earmarks is a step in the right direction,” said Sen. Johnson.
The ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ that Congress is working on is certainly big, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Too often the reality of these budget debates gets obscured in details, politically charged issues and demagoguery. Let me attempt to clarify the current discussion by focusing on the most important facts and numbers. In fiscal 2019, federal outlays totaled $4.45 trillion, or 20.6% of gross domestic product. This year, according to the Congressional Budget Office’s January 2025 projection, total outlays will be $7.03 trillion, or 23.3% of GDP. That’s a 58% increase over six years. The CBO projects federal outlays will total $89.3 trillion across fiscal 2026-35. Much of the blame goes to pandemic spending, but lockdowns are long over. There’s nothing now to justify this abnormal level of government spending. Pathetically, Congress is having a hard time agreeing on a reduction of even $1.5 trillion from that 10-year amount. That’s a 1.68% cut—a little more than a rounding error. My guess is that much of that minuscule decrease will be backloaded to the end of the 10 years for which Congress is now budgeting, increasing the probability those savings will never be realized.
Today, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) released his report titled, "FY 2025 Budget Reconciliation: Facts, Figures, and Analysis." The senator contends that neither Congress, the Administration, nor the public at large has fully acknowledged the depth of the fiscal hole we have dug, or what it will take to dig ourselves out of it. “The first step in solving any problem is admitting you have one. The second step is defining it clearly,” said Sen. Johnson.
Neither Congress, the Administration, nor the public at large has fully acknowledged the depth of the fiscal hole we have dug, or what it will take to dig ourselves out of it. This is why I am releasing my report “FY 2025 Budget Reconciliation: Facts, Figures, and Analysis.”
Today, Senator Rick Scott led Senators Mike Lee and Ron Johnson in a resolution opposing the wasteful practice of earmarks in Congress, which have been abused by Democrats for years to include billions of taxpayer dollars in federal spending on thousands of liberal pet projects and special interest priorities. As the federal debt tops $38 trillion, Senator Scott has been fighting for fiscal sanity and a balanced budget, which means ensuring every single dollar the federal government spends provides a return for American taxpayers. Senator Scott has long opposed earmarks and has previously led a resolution to condemn wasteful spending and restore fiscal sanity to Washington.
The U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations says FY 2026 Congressionally Directed Spending items were included in multiple enacted appropriations laws, including P.L. 119-37 signed November 12, 2025; P.L. 119-74 signed January 23, 2026; P.L. 119-75 signed February 3, 2026; and P.L. 119-86 signed April 30, 2026.
Congress.gov lists S.Amdt.3428 to H.R.3944, sponsored by Ron Johnson, with the purpose 'To limit disclosures regarding earmarks.' The latest action says the amendment was 'not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 21 - 75.'
Assessments
The promised outcome was to eliminate congressional earmarks as a federal spending/debt measure. The evidence shows Johnson repeatedly opposed earmarks, offered amendments, and co-sponsored resolutions to restore or reaffirm an earmark ban, including an amendment that failed 21-75 and S.Res.517 opposing earmarks. However, official appropriations evidence shows congressionally directed spending remained included in enacted FY 2026 appropriations laws, so earmarks were not eliminated. Because Johnson made serious legislative attempts but the promised outcome was not delivered, this is a failed promise with effort credit.
Senator Ron Johnson made multiple serious legislative and executive attempts to eliminate congressional earmarks, including proposing and co-sponsoring amendments and resolutions aimed at banning or removing earmarks from federal spending bills. He also co-sponsored S.Res.517, urging a return to a permanent ban on earmarks. However, these efforts did not result in the complete elimination of congressional earmarks from federal spending, as earmarks continued to be included in omnibus bills despite his opposition. There is strong evidence of repeated, direct action and public advocacy, but the promise to fully eliminate earmarks was not fully delivered.
Senator Ron Johnson made repeated and concrete legislative efforts to eliminate congressional earmarks, including co-sponsoring resolutions, introducing and supporting amendments to remove earmarks from spending bills, and advocating publicly. However, these efforts did not result in the permanent elimination of congressional earmarks, as none of his proposed amendments or resolutions were ultimately adopted or enacted into law. Thus, while significant effort was demonstrated, the promise itself was not fulfilled.
Senator Ron Johnson consistently introduced and supported multiple legislative efforts aimed at eliminating congressional earmarks, including amendments and resolutions spanning several years. However, none of these proposals succeeded in eliminating earmarks, and earmarks remain a feature of congressional spending. While significant effort was made, the promise to eliminate congressional earmarks was not fulfilled.