Opinion Pieces by Rob

As the representative for Virginia’s 1st District in Congress, I take seriously the legislative branch’s responsibility to ensure the federal government operates efficiently, effectively and in the best interests of the American people. Across party lines, there’s growing agreement: Washington must get its fiscal house in order by spending taxpayer dollars wisely while focusing on results that matter to everyday Americans.

This isn’t a new idea. In 2010, President Barack Obama proposed a freeze on government spending and pledged to root out inefficiencies, stating, “We have gone through every department’s spending line by line ... looking for inefficiency, duplication and programs that have outlived their usefulness.” He identified billions in potential savings by eliminating outdated programs and waste.

Years later, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to do just that — root out duplication and waste across federal agencies.

Both presidents recognized the same truth: We cannot continue spending money we don’t have. With a national debt surpassing $36 trillion, this burden threatens the long-term stability of critical programs like Social Security and Medicare and jeopardizes economic opportunity for future generations.

To address this, we need to pursue targeted savings — not reckless cuts. That means using a scalpel, not a sledgehammer, when it comes to rightsizing the federal workforce or realigning federal spending. We must always remember the real people behind the numbers — families depending on paychecks, seniors relying on benefits, and communities counting on services.

One of the clearest paths to fiscal responsibility is by eliminating programs that no longer serve a purpose. Federal initiatives often begin with good intentions, but over time, some lose focus, grow inefficient or become obsolete. That’s why we must regularly assess what’s working and what’s not — and redirect funds accordingly.

Even President Obama highlighted this point in 2010, citing cuts like $115 million from a program paying states to clean up already-cleaned-up mines, and a Forest Service program that had strayed so far from its mission it was funding music festivals. These are exactly the kinds of misplaced priorities we must fix.

But spending reform won’t matter unless we also reform how Congress does its job. Too often, funding bills are rushed through at the last minute — filled with wasteful provisions and passed without the proper scrutiny. That’s not how American families or businesses operate, and it shouldn’t be how Congress handles the people’s money.

That’s why I introduced the Stay on Schedule (S.O.S.) Resolution, which would require Congress to remain in session until all 12 government funding bills are passed — no August recess until the job is done. By committing to regular order, we can restore transparency, avoid bloated year-end packages, and return accountability to the budget process.

Washington should live by the same principles as American families: save what we can, spend what we must, and live within our means. Fiscal responsibility isn’t about slashing for the sake of headlines. It’s about building a government that delivers results — smarter, leaner and more effective.

U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman represents the 1st Congressional District of Virginia, which includes the Historic Triangle, Poquoson, the Northern Neck, Middle Peninsula and part of the Richmond suburbs. He serves as vice chairman of both the House Armed Services Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee.