A Year in Photos: Ernst Recaps 2025

WASHINGTON – Over the past year, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) has been hard at work fighting for Iowa. From supporting our servicemembers and traveling River to River to partnering with the Trump administration to save taxpayer dollars, Ernst has been putting Iowa families, farmers, small businesses, and veterans first.

“2026 will be here in a flash, but before it’s time to ring in in the new year, I am looking back on some of my favorite memories from 2025,” said Ernst. “There was never a dull moment while I focused on making Washington squeal, supporting our servicemembers, standing up for farmers, and keeping Iowans safe.”

A Call to Serve – As the first female combat veteran elected to the Senate, Ernst continues her commitment to service. This year, she awarded World War II Army Rangers with the Congressional Gold Medal, assisted with solider promotion ceremonies, broke ground on a new Army National Guard facility in Sioux City, and hosted several ruck marches in the spirit of service to her state and country. To bolster military recruitment efforts and ensure future generations are equipped to serve, Ernst’s SERVE Act was signed into law.

Traveling River to River in Iowa – Ernst continued her annual River to River Tour in 2025, crisscrossing the state from the Mississippi River to the Missouri River to meet with Iowans and hear their concerns to inform her work in the Senate.

Bringing Iowans’ Concerns to the Highest Levels of the Trump Administration – Working with President Trump and his team, Ernst successfully brought the stories of Iowans to the highest levels of the administration. This year, she hosted four cabinet members in Iowa and worked with the Environmental Protection Agency and Small Business Administration to roll back regulatory burdens for all Americans.

Fun Traditions and Candid Moments – From participating in the annual Congressional Baseball Game to visiting the great Iowa State Fair, Ernst honored traditions and had a bit of fun throughout the year.

Celebrating Iowa Small Businesses – In her role as Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, Ernst recognizes a small business in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties each Congress. In the past year, Ernst visited some of these award-winning entrepreneurs to see firsthand the great work they do in their communities and personally thank them for their efforts.

Hosting Iowans in Washington, D.C. – Ernst often says Washington is a better place when Iowans are in town, and in 2025, she was proud to host folks from her home state for President Trump’s inauguration, talk policy on Capitol Hill, and welcome veterans on Honor Flights.

Making Washington Squeal – As founder and chair of the Senate DOGE Caucus, Ernst built on the decades of work in her monthly “Squeal Awards” to expose waste, fraud, and abuse and counter it with specific oversight and legislative solutions. This year, she tracked down trillions of wasted taxpayer dollars, including double dealing bureaucrats, empty government buildings, billion-dollar boondoggles, handouts for the idle rich, and more.

Keeping Iowans Safe – After Iowan Sarah Root was killed by an illegal immigrant who escaped justice in 2016, Ernst has never forgotten Sarah or her family. This year, the senator worked with the Trump administration to extradite Sarah’s killer so he will face justice. President Trump made Ernst’s Sarah’s Law the law of the land to ensure this never happens to another family.

Fighting for Farmers – Ernst worked tirelessly on behalf of Iowa producers, securing several measures in the One Big Beautiful Bill, including a raise in reference prices to strengthen the farm safety net, prevent foreign animal disease, and access affordable crop insurance. She also took action to protect our farmland from foreign adversaries and secured access to E15 for the summer driving months.