February 06, 2025, 09:00 AM PST
(PenniesToSave.com) – The U.S. government has a long history of reckless spending, but some expenditures go beyond wasteful—they are outright absurd. While taxpayers struggle with inflation, rising taxes, and economic uncertainty, federal agencies continue to pour money into projects ranging from diversity training for Serbian businesses to a balloon animal academy.
The Department of Government Oversight and Efficiency (DOGE) has identified 25 of the most ridiculous government expenditures. These wasteful projects cost taxpayers billions of dollars and highlight the urgent need for fiscal responsibility in Washington.
1. $70,000 for a DEI-Themed Musical in Ireland
In September 2022, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) awarded a grant of $70,884 to Ceiliuradh Company Limited by Guarantee, based in Ventry, County Kerry, Ireland. The grant’s purpose was to “deliver a live musical event to promote the U.S. and Irish shared values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.”
The specific production funded by this grant has not been explicitly identified in available sources. However, discussions suggest it may be “Ireland 100: An Old Song Re-Sung,” a two-hour radio production aired by RTÉ, Ireland’s national broadcaster. This program was produced by South Wind Blows Limited, an independent Cork-based company controlled by Philip King, who also presents for RTÉ Radio. [Source]
2. $32,000 for a Transgender Comic Book in Peru
In 2022, the U.S. Department of State, through the U.S. Embassy in Lima, Peru, awarded a $32,000 grant to produce a custom comic book featuring an LGBTQ+ hero. The project’s aim was to address social and mental health issues within the LGBTQ+ community in Peru.
The specific details of the comic book, including its title, storyline, and distribution plan, have not been publicly disclosed. The initiative reflects the U.S. government’s efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion internationally. [Source]
3. $1.5 Million for Workplace DEI Programs in Serbia
In 2022, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) allocated $1.5 million to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within Serbian workplaces and business communities. The initiative aimed to foster inclusive work environments and support marginalized groups in Serbia.
Specific details about the program’s implementation, such as partner organizations, targeted industries, or measurable outcomes, have not been publicly disclosed. The initiative reflects USAID’s broader mission to promote inclusive development and equal opportunities in various regions worldwide. [Source]
4. $300,000 for DEI Initiatives in Bird-Watching Groups
In 2024, the National Science Foundation (NSF) allocated approximately $288,563 to support diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within bird-watching communities. The grant aimed to establish “affinity groups” within ornithological societies, essentially creating bird-watching clubs based on identity characteristics, to foster inclusivity in the field.
Specific details regarding the implementation of these affinity groups, such as the organizations involved, the structure of the groups, or the metrics for success, have not been publicly disclosed. The initiative reflects NSF’s broader commitment to promoting inclusivity and diversity within various scientific and recreational communities. [Source]
5. $365,000 for Circus Performances in City Parks
Over the past several years, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has awarded a total of $365,000 to Fern Street Community Arts, Inc., a San Diego-based organization, to support circus performances in city parks.
In 2020, the NEA provided two grants to Fern Street Community Arts: a $25,000 grant for circus tours across city parks and a subsequent $50,000 grant to support performers after government shutdowns of city parks due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, Fern Street Circus received a $150,000 grant from the NEA to help the arts and cultural sector recover from the pandemic.
These grants were intended to promote the arts and provide accessible entertainment in public spaces, contributing to community engagement and cultural enrichment. [Source]
6. $8.4 Million on Politico Subscriptions for Federal Agencies
In 2024, various U.S. federal agencies collectively spent approximately $8 million on subscriptions to Politico Pro, a premium service offered by Politico that provides in-depth policy analysis and real-time legislative tracking.
This expenditure has drawn criticism from some who argue that such spending is unnecessary, especially considering that much of Politico’s standard content is freely accessible online. Critics contend that taxpayer dollars could be better allocated, particularly when alternative, cost-effective sources of information are available.
In response to these criticisms, Politico’s leadership clarified that the company has never received government funding in the form of subsidies, grants, or handouts. They emphasized that Politico Pro is a specialized service, and government agencies subscribe to it through standard procurement processes, similar to how they purchase other tools and resources necessary for their operations. [Source]
7. $8 Billion in Subsidies for Wealthy Farmers
The $8 billion in farm subsidies disproportionately benefited wealthy landowners and large agribusinesses rather than small family farms. These subsidies are typically distributed based on acreage and production levels, meaning those who own the most land receive the most aid. This system allows large corporate farms and even non-farming investors to collect significant government assistance, while smaller, struggling farmers receive little to no help.
Many of the recipients of these subsidies are wealthy landowners who lease their farmland rather than actively farm it. Some reports have shown that members of Congress, investment funds, and urban residents who own farmland as an asset have also received payments. Meanwhile, small farmers—who often face financial struggles—are left at a disadvantage, unable to compete with large agribusinesses that continue to expand using government funds.
This raises concerns about government waste and economic fairness, as taxpayer dollars are funneled into a system that favors corporate farming over traditional family agriculture. Potential reforms include capping payments to wealthy landowners, closing loopholes that allow non-farmers to collect aid, and restructuring subsidies to better support struggling farmers and sustainable agricultural practices. [Source]
8. $10 Billion Maintaining Empty Government Buildings
The federal government incurs substantial costs annually to maintain and lease office spaces that are significantly underutilized. A 2023 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report highlighted that federal agencies collectively spend about $2 billion each year to operate and maintain office buildings, irrespective of their utilization rates. Additionally, these agencies allocate approximately $5 billion annually to lease office spaces. The GAO’s assessment of 24 federal agencies revealed that, during early 2023, 17 agencies utilized an estimated average of 25% or less of their headquarters’ capacity.
This underutilization has been exacerbated by the rise of telework, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic. A report from the Public Buildings Reform Board indicated that, in 2023, federal office buildings were operating at only 30% of their 2019 occupancy levels. For instance, the Department of Labor’s headquarters, encompassing 1.9 million square feet, had an average daily attendance of just 441 employees, resulting in an annual cost of approximately $182,000 per regularly attending employee. [Source]
9. $12 Million on a 30-Court Pickleball Complex in Las Vegas
In January 2023, the City of Las Vegas received a $12 million federal grant from the Bureau of Land Management to design and construct a 30-court pickleball complex on 5.43 acres south of Wayne Bunker Park. This project aims to serve the growing number of pickleball players in the valley and to host local, regional, state, national, and international tournaments.
While the complex is intended to meet the recreational needs of the community, the allocation of federal funds for such projects has faced criticism. Senator Rand Paul highlighted this expenditure in his annual “Festivus Report,” citing it as an example of government waste. Critics argue that federal funds should prioritize more pressing needs over recreational facilities in affluent cities.
Proponents, however, contend that the complex will provide significant community benefits, including promoting physical activity, fostering social interaction, and potentially generating economic activity through tournaments and events. The debate underscores the broader discussion about the appropriate use of federal funds and the prioritization of projects that best serve public interests.
10. Millions Paid to Deceased Individuals Through Social Security and Other Programs
The U.S. government has faced challenges with issuing payments to deceased individuals due to outdated records and insufficient oversight. In a recent initiative, the Department of the Treasury recovered over $31 million in federal payments that were improperly disbursed to deceased persons. This recovery was part of a five-month pilot program where the Treasury was granted temporary access to the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) “Full Death Master File,” a comprehensive database containing over 142 million death records dating back to 1899. The Treasury projects that during its three-year access period, from December 2023 through 2026, it will recover more than $215 million.
Despite these efforts, the issue persists, highlighting the need for improved record-keeping and fraud prevention measures. The SSA maintains the Death Master File, which is used to match records and prevent identity fraud. However, the accuracy of this file is crucial, as errors can lead to improper payments or, conversely, the wrongful termination of benefits for living individuals mistakenly listed as deceased.
To mitigate these issues, it’s essential for deaths to be reported promptly to the SSA. Typically, funeral directors provide the deceased’s Social Security number to the SSA, but family members should also ensure that the death has been reported to prevent further payments. If a payment is received for the month of a recipient’s death, it must be returned, as the SSA cannot pay benefits for the month of death. [Source]
11. $17 Billion Wasted on Excessive Federal Administrative Costs
The U.S. federal government incurs substantial expenses annually due to excessive administrative costs, inefficient processes, and bureaucratic bloat. Efforts to address these inefficiencies have been ongoing. The Obama administration’s Campaign to Cut Waste successfully reduced improper payments by $17.6 billion in 2011, targeting wasteful spending across various federal agencies.
Despite such initiatives, challenges persist. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has consistently identified opportunities to reduce fragmentation, overlap, and duplication within federal programs, which could result in significant cost savings. Their annual reports highlight areas where streamlined operations could enhance efficiency and reduce unnecessary expenditures. [Source]
12. $20 Billion in Environmental Cleanup Projects Exceeding Budget by Over 300%
Several government-led environmental cleanup projects have significantly exceeded their original budgets, resulting in billions of dollars in additional costs. These overruns often stem from unforeseen technical challenges, evolving regulatory requirements, and underestimations during the planning phases.
Notable Examples:
Hanford Site Cleanup: Located in Washington State, the Hanford Site is one of the most contaminated nuclear sites in the U.S. Initial cleanup efforts faced numerous challenges, leading to substantial cost increases. By 2013, the estimated cleanup cost had reached $40 billion, with projections indicating an additional $115 billion required to complete the remediation. [Source]
Everglades Restoration: Initiated in 2000, the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan aimed to reverse environmental damage in South Florida. Originally projected to cost $7.8 billion over 30 years, the plan has experienced significant delays and budget overruns. As of recent assessments, the estimated cost has escalated to over $23 billion, with completion expected to extend beyond the initial timeline. [Source]
13. $28 Billion on Military Equipment Not Requested by the Pentagon
In recent fiscal years, Congress has authorized substantial funding for military equipment and programs that were not part of the Department of Defense’s (DoD) original budget requests. For instance, in the fiscal year 2024 defense spending bills, House and Senate appropriators added a combined $25.7 billion for over 1,200 research and procurement projects that the Pentagon did not formally seek.
This practice often stems from political interests, such as supporting defense contractors within lawmakers’ districts or states, rather than addressing actual military needs. Critics argue that such additions can lead to inefficient allocation of resources and contribute to unnecessary defense spending. For example, the House version of the fiscal year 2024 defense appropriations bill included $675 million for tiltrotor aircraft that the Navy did not request.
Efforts to curb this trend have been ongoing. Analysts suggest that reducing strategic overreach, minimizing pork-barrel politics, and addressing corporate lobbying are essential steps toward more efficient defense spending. [Source]
14. $100 Billion Lost to Unemployment Fraud and Improper Payments
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. unemployment insurance (UI) system experienced unprecedented levels of fraud and improper payments. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) estimates that between $100 billion and $135 billion—approximately 11% to 15% of total UI benefits paid during the pandemic—were lost to fraudulent activities.
Several factors contributed to this significant loss:
- Rapid Implementation of Emergency Programs: The urgency to provide financial assistance led to the swift rollout of new UI programs, which often lacked robust fraud prevention measures.
- Inadequate Fraud Detection Systems: Many state workforce agencies were unprepared for the surge in claims and did not have effective systems in place to detect and prevent fraudulent activities.
- Exploitation by Fraudsters: Organized crime rings and individual fraudsters exploited vulnerabilities in the system, using stolen identities and other tactics to file fraudulent claims.
In response to these challenges, the Department of Labor provided funding to states to enhance their fraud prevention, detection, and recovery efforts. Despite these initiatives, as of March 2023, states reported recovering only about $6.8 billion of the improper payments, including $1.2 billion identified as fraudulent. [Source]
15. $125 Billion in Department of Defense Waste
In 2015, the Defense Business Board, in collaboration with consultants from McKinsey & Company, conducted an internal study revealing that the Department of Defense (DoD) could potentially save $125 billion over five years by addressing inefficiencies in its administrative operations. The study identified that nearly a quarter of the DoD’s $580 billion budget was allocated to overhead and core business functions, such as accounting, human resources, logistics, and property management. Notably, the report highlighted that the Pentagon employed over a million individuals in these back-office roles, a figure nearly equal to its active-duty personnel.
The proposed savings were to be achieved through measures like streamlining bureaucracy via attrition and early retirements, reducing reliance on high-cost contractors, and enhancing the utilization of information technology. Importantly, the plan did not suggest layoffs of civil servants or reductions in military personnel.
However, concerns arose among senior defense officials that publicizing these findings might lead Congress to impose further budget cuts. As a result, the report was suppressed, with data classified and the summary removed from the Pentagon’s website. [Source]
16. $157 Billion in COVID Relief Funds Misused by State and Local Governments
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. federal government allocated substantial funds to state and local governments to mitigate the pandemic’s impact. However, concerns have been raised regarding the misuse and mismanagement of these funds.
For instance, the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic has called on the Department of the Treasury to release detailed information regarding the potential misuse of $350 billion in COVID-19 aid allocated to state, local, territorial, and tribal governments.
Additionally, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has reported on the challenges in tracking and ensuring the proper use of these funds. As of September 30, 2023, states and the District of Columbia reported obligating 73% ($142.4 billion) of their $195.8 billion in State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) awards, with 53% ($103.7 billion) reported as spent. The GAO emphasizes the importance of robust oversight to prevent misuse and ensure funds are used effectively.
Instances of misuse have been identified. In Southern California, a county official pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery, admitting to misusing COVID-19 relief funds intended to feed the elderly. Only 15% of over $9 million was used for meals, with the remainder misappropriated, including on real estate. [Source]
17. $247 Billion in Improper Federal Payments
In fiscal year 2022, the U.S. federal government reported approximately $247 billion in improper payments across 82 programs, as identified by 18 agencies. Improper payments include funds disbursed in incorrect amounts, payments made to ineligible recipients, or payments lacking sufficient documentation.
The majority of these improper payments were concentrated in five key program areas:
- Medicaid: $81 billion
- Medicare: $47 billion
- Paycheck Protection Program: $29 billion
- Unemployment Insurance: $19 billion
- Earned Income Tax Credit: $18 billion
Collectively, these programs accounted for approximately 78% of the total improper payments reported.
Overpayments constituted about $200 billion of the improper payments, while underpayments and other errors made up the remaining amount. It’s important to note that these figures may be understated, as estimates for certain high-risk programs, such as the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, were not included in the total. [Source]
18. $280 Billion Lost in Fraudulent Pandemic Relief Payments
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. government implemented several relief programs to support individuals and businesses. However, these programs became targets for fraudulent activities, leading to significant financial losses.
Estimates suggest that fraudsters may have stolen more than $280 billion from pandemic relief funds. The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), designed to assist small businesses in maintaining their workforce, was particularly affected. Reports indicate that approximately 15% of PPP loans, totaling around $76 billion, exhibited signs of fraud.
The U.S. Department of Justice has actively pursued cases related to pandemic relief fraud. As of April 2024, the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force charged over 3,500 defendants, involving losses exceeding $2 billion. [Source]
19. $1.2 Billion in Tax Credits for Luxury Electric Vehicles
The federal electric vehicle (EV) tax credit, designed to promote the adoption of clean energy vehicles, has been utilized predominantly by higher-income individuals. According to a 2021 analysis by the Congressional Research Service, approximately 78% of these credits were claimed by taxpayers with annual incomes of at least $100,000. This trend has raised concerns about the equitable distribution of government incentives.
In response to these disparities, the Inflation Reduction Act introduced income caps for EV tax credit eligibility. As of 2023, the $7,500 credit for new EV purchases is available only to individuals with a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) up to $150,000, and to married couples filing jointly with a MAGI up to $300,000. For used EVs, a $4,000 credit is available to individuals with a MAGI up to $75,000, and to married couples filing jointly with a MAGI up to $150,000. These measures aim to ensure that the benefits of the tax credit are more evenly distributed across different income groups. [Source]
20. $516 Billion in Expired Federal Programs Still Receiving Funding
In fiscal year 2024, the U.S. federal government allocated approximately $516 billion to 491 programs with expired authorizations. This situation arises when programs continue to receive funding despite lacking current legislative approval, often due to congressional inaction on reauthorization. [Source]
21. Trillions Unaccounted for in Pentagon Audits
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has consistently faced challenges in financial accountability, failing its annual audits for seven consecutive years since audits became mandatory in 2018. In the most recent audit conducted in November 2024, the DoD was unable to fully account for its $824 billion budget.
The audits assess the DoD’s financial statements, encompassing assets such as weapons systems, military personnel, and property worldwide. In the latest audit, the Pentagon could only account for about 50% of its $3.8 trillion in assets, highlighting significant discrepancies in financial record-keeping.
These repeated audit failures raise serious concerns about financial transparency and accountability within the DoD. The inability to accurately track assets and expenditures not only undermines public trust but also hampers effective resource allocation and strategic planning. [Source]
Final Thoughts
From multimillion-dollar DEI initiatives in foreign countries to trillions of unaccounted dollars in Pentagon spending, government waste has reached shocking levels. While taxpayers struggle with inflation and economic uncertainty, federal agencies continue to misallocate funds with little oversight.
It’s time for Washington to prioritize fiscal responsibility, reduce unnecessary spending, and ensure that every taxpayer dollar is spent wisely. Americans deserve accountability and efficiency from their government—not financial relief funds going to the wealthy or funding DEI programs abroad.