Ashley Hinson on DOGE and Federal Workers: Praise for DOGE, Social Security Staff Cuts and Iowa USDA Firings
Ashley Hinson endorsed Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency as cuts were under way, saying in February 2025, "I think that this is exactly what the federal government needs" (Des Moines Register, paywalled; free: The Iowa Independent). DOGE-era cuts removed more than 8,000 Social Security Administration employees, including 32 in Iowa, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities as cited by The Iowa Independent.
In Iowa, the Social Security field office in Decorah was closed for about six months, and USDA workers at the National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment in Ames and staff at the Cedar Rapids Vet Center were fired in February 2025 (KTIV).
Ashley Hinson's Statements on DOGE
- Hinson Called DOGE What the Government Needs in February 2025. On February 6, 2025, Ashley Hinson said of DOGE, "I think that this is exactly what the federal government needs" (Des Moines Register, paywalled; free: The Iowa Independent). DOGE-era cuts removed more than 8,000 Social Security employees by April 2026, including 32 in Iowa (The Iowa Independent).
- Hinson Praised DOGE After Hearing From Musk in March 2025. On March 7, 2025, Hinson said, "The amazing amount of fraud, waste, and abuse that is being uncovered is going out publicly," and that agencies had fired all probationary employees "out of spite" when told to cut poor performers (Radio Iowa).
- Hinson Took Credit for Reopening the Decorah Social Security Office in June 2026. On June 10, 2026, Hinson said, "The fact that this office was closed for six months was unacceptable" (The Iowa Independent). The office closed after its sole remaining staff member retired in late 2025 amid the staffing cuts she had praised, and some Decorah residents drove 90 miles each way for help (The Iowa Independent).
What the DOGE Cuts Ashley Hinson Praised Mean for Iowa
- Decorah seniors lost in-person Social Security help for six months. Residents drove up to 90 miles each way to other offices, and a federal union said Decorah was one of nine "ghost offices" left with very limited service (The Iowa Independent).
- USDA scientists in Ames were fired during an Iowa bird flu outbreak. A fired worker at the USDA lab in Ames described losing his "dream job" the same day Iowa declared a bird flu disaster in Sac County, and a veteran at the Cedar Rapids Vet Center said services would suffer (KTIV).
- Iowa's federal workforce of about 9,800 was cut without a public count. Iowa had about 9,854 non-postal federal workers, including over 4,700 at Veterans Affairs and 1,988 at USDA, and the USDA would not say how many Iowans it fired (Business Record).
Frequently Asked Questions Ashley Hinson on DOGE and Federal Workers
What is Ashley Hinson's record on DOGE and federal workers under Trump?
Ashley Hinson praised DOGE in February and March 2025, calling it "exactly what the federal government needs" (The Iowa Independent). DOGE-era cuts removed 32 Social Security workers in Iowa, left the Decorah office closed for six months, and hit USDA labs in Ames (KTIV).
What happened to the Decorah Social Security office under Ashley Hinson?
Decorah, a town in Ashley Hinson's Iowa district, lost its Social Security field office for about six months after its last staff member retired in late 2025; Hinson claimed credit for the reopening in June 2026 (The Iowa Independent).
What did Ashley Hinson say about Elon Musk?
Ashley Hinson said in March 2025 that she had heard directly from Elon Musk and praised "the amazing amount of fraud, waste, and abuse that is being uncovered" (Radio Iowa).
Last updated: 2026-10-28