Last Thursday, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., released “America’s Most Wasted,” the first in a series of oversight reports that expose wasteful, duplicative, and inefficient government spending. A statement on McCain’s Website says, “Unnecessary, wasteful government spending is putting America on a dangerous path, burdening future generations with a mounting national debt now totaling more than $18 trillion… I believe the America’s Most Wasted reports should serve as a wake-up call to Congress and the American people keep their government accountable by demanding an end to wasteful government spending. At a time when Americans’ disapproval of government is at an all-time high, it has never been more important to reign-in spending and put our fiscal house back in order.” “The report identifies $294 billion in funding on expired federal programs, as well as $1.1 billion on the following wasteful projects:
- $50,000 for the Army to research the bomb-detecting capabilities of elephants
- $30,000 for puppet shows in Vermont
- $225.3 million in Social Security overpayments
- $49 million of National Guard spending on pro sports advertising – instead of training and equipping the armed forces
- $753 million and 10 years to renovate a building for Members of Congress (the Cannon House Office Building)
- $14 million for a duplicative Catfish Inspection Office
- $23 million on a DHS contract that was eventually terminated
- $390,798 on NIH’s dog bite prevention website
- $15,000 for EPA to study pollution from your backyard BBQ
“Future America’s Most Wasted reports this year will highlight wasteful spending in other departments of government, including in federal wildfire management, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Defense, which Senator McCain is closely examining as Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.”
To access the full report, go to Wasteful Spending.