Is the SWAG Act officially dead?

Its champion, Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, announced earlier this week that she will not seek reelection next year when her term ends. The Republican senator, who is nearing the end of her second term, has filed a version of this same bill – and drawn opposition from PPAI – twice, first in 2019.

RELATED: Chair Of DOGE Senate Caucus Begins Battle Against Swag

In anticipation of the incoming administration’s “Department of Government Efficiency” and its push for spending cuts, Ernst formed the Senate DOGE Caucus last November and published a number of examples of what she considers unnecessary government spending, including branded merchandise commissioned for federal agencies.

“Federal agencies collectively spend $1.5 billion every year on public relations and propaganda,” Ernst wrote in a November 25 letter to then-DOGE co-chairs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. “This includes koozies, key chains, coloring books, Snuggies, and costumed mascots. Let’s bag the swag.”

PPAI reached out immediately to our partners in Washington to leverage their existing relationships with Ernst’s staff to start new conversations with key members of her team on behalf of the industry.

These were followed up in February with a letter signed by PPAI members based in Iowa – Ernst’s constituents. The letter included specific information about promo’s economic impact in Iowa, from the number of people the senator represents who live and work in Iowa to the estimated revenue the industry generated in the state last year.

A PPAI team met directly with Ernst during the Association’s Legislative Education & Action Day in April as well to discuss the potential harm the bill could cause, not only to the promo industry but to the federal agencies that rely on promotional products to communicate vital information to the public.

“We left with confidence that our elected officials understand and support the need for balanced strategies that protect fair trade without compromising our industry’s incredible ability to spread joy around the world,” said PPAI President & CEO Drew Holmgreen after the event.

ICYMI: LEAD 2025: Opposing The SWAG Act

But Ernst wasn’t alone. The current “Stop Wasteful Advertising by the Government Act,” or SWAG Act, bill that she introduced in January is co-sponsored by three Republican senators: James Lankford of Oklahoma, Steve Daines of Montana and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee. An identical bill was introduced in the House in January by Rep. Michael Cloud, (R-Texas).

Neither bill has progressed beyond referral to committee, but PPAI will continue to monitor this issue and advocate for the industry.

As part of our “promotional products work” message to leaders on Capitol Hill, we shared several case studies of successful real-world promo projects for federal and state agencies. These stories help illustrate for lawmakers why promotional products work, as well as show how promo distributors and suppliers drive growth, create jobs and support local economies.

If you have managed a successful branded merchandise project for a government agency and would like to share your story for a future case study, please email Rachel Zoch at RachelZ@ppai.org.

For questions or suggestions on regulatory or government affairs issues, contact Rachel Zoch, PPAI’s public affairs manager, at RachelZ@ppai.org.