Congress and Federal Agencies Waste Over $1 Trillion of Taxpayer Money in 2024
A recent analysis published by U.S. Sen. Rand Paul reveals that Congress and federal agencies squandered more than $1 trillion of taxpayer money in 2024. Paul, a staunch advocate for fiscal responsibility, has long criticized the rampant waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer funds.
This unrestrained spending has exacerbated the national debt, which now exceeds $36 trillion. Paul points out that Americans are paying $892 billion in fiscal year 2024 just on the interest accrued on the national debt.
In his Festivus Report 2024, Paul criticizes both political parties in Congress for approving hefty spending bills that include subsidies for underperforming industries, continued military aid to Ukraine, and controversial climate initiatives. This unchecked spending burdens American taxpayers with high prices and crippling interest rates.
Paul highlights various instances of wasteful spending, such as the federal government allocating $10 billion for maintaining nearly empty buildings and over $7 million on frivolous projects. The U.S. Department of State emerges as a major culprit in misusing taxpayer funds, with expenditures including millions on influencers, climate initiatives in Brazil, and border security in Paraguay.
Examples of Wasteful Spending
- Nearly $5 million on influencers
- $3 million on ‘Girl-Centered Climate Action’ in Brazil
- $2.1 million for Paraguayan Border Security
- Nearly $900,000 for movie production in Jordan
- $500,000 for a social media campaign in Ethiopia
- $345,434 on football engagement to counter terrorism
- $330,000 to censor conservative media
- More than $250,000 to combat “misinformation” in Bosnia
- More than $123,000 to teach Kyrgyzstan youth viral marketing
- More than $108,000 on a non-functioning hotel
- More than $32,500 for breakdancing
Other egregious examples include the Department of the Interior spending $12 million on a pickleball complex in Las Vegas and the Department of Health and Human Services awarding a $2 million grant to study children’s responses to Facebook food ads.
The report also reveals the Department of Energy’s $15.5 billion expenditure to promote electric vehicles, the National Endowment for the Arts funding circuses in city parks, and the U.S. Treasury granting a failed trucking company a $700 million loan.
With wasteful spending rampant across various government agencies, Paul’s report underscores the urgent need for greater oversight and accountability to ensure taxpayer money is used efficiently and effectively.
Syndicated with permission from The Center Square.
