12 Incredible Examples of Government Waste
A Cold War-era program called the Initiative for Proliferation Prevention has in many years been appropriated far more than it can spend, according to Coburn's report. The Department of Energy (DOE) has admitted that the program overlaps with other g
A Cold War-era program called the Initiative for Proliferation Prevention has in many years been appropriated far more than it can spend, according to Coburn's report. The Department of Energy (DOE) has admitted that the program overlaps with other government nonproliferation initiatives. Contrary to its original mission of ensuring that former Soviet nuclear experts did not go to work for rogue nations or terrorist groups, the program has helped Russian weapons institutes recruit scientists. The DOE says the program has created nearly 2,800 private sector jobs in Russia.
REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
A "key part" of a four-year, $27 million plan by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to improve the economic competitiveness of Morocco involved training Moroccans to design and make pottery for sale both locally and in internationa
A "key part" of a four-year, $27 million plan by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to improve the economic competitiveness of Morocco involved training Moroccans to design and make pottery for sale both locally and in international markets, Cobrun's report says. But the translator hired was not fluent in English and some of the materials used in the sessions were not regularly available in Morocco. The agency's Inspector General concluded the training was "ineffective and poorly implemented."
REUTERS/Rafaek Marchante
Smuttynose Brewery in New Hampshire, which has annual sales of more than $5 million, will use three-quarters of a million dollars in federal funds to build a new buy three new brew tanks and set up sewage connections for a new location outside Portsm
Smuttynose Brewery in New Hampshire, which has annual sales of more than $5 million, will use three-quarters of a million dollars in federal funds to build a new buy three new brew tanks and set up sewage connections for a new location outside Portsmouth. And in New York, the Clayton Distillery Company was awarded a $99,000 grant by the Department of Agriculture to launch its liquor business. The owner of a competing new distillery said the grant to Clayton put him at a competitive disdvantage.
Smuttynose Brewery/Clayton Distillery
A Pentagon project dedicated to testing technology from our allies in order "to improve the U.S. warfighter's capabilities" is using a process developed in France to develop a new form of beef jerky that resembles a Fruit Roll-Up. "The Pentagon could
A Pentagon project dedicated to testing technology from our allies in order "to improve the U.S. warfighter's capabilities" is using a process developed in France to develop a new form of beef jerky that resembles a Fruit Roll-Up. "The Pentagon could have simply purchased meat snacks from the numerous companies already producing these popular treats rather than creating its own brand of jerky," Coburn's report says. The Pentagon isn't alone, though: The Department of Agriculture gave a $283,884 grant to the Sunburst Trout Farms, which produces trout jerky and other fishy products, to help expand the market for those foods.
Wastebook
Sergeant's Pet Care Products, a company with $140 million in revenue, received half a million dollars in Community Development Block Grants provided by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The money was for capital improvements, like buyi
Sergeant's Pet Care Products, a company with $140 million in revenue, received half a million dollars in Community Development Block Grants provided by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The money was for capital improvements, like buying machinery to make pet toothpaste and shampoo. Woof!
REUTERS/Allison Joyce
Researchers at San Diego State University and the University of California, Davis spent part of a $325,000 National Science Foundation grant to make “RoboSquirrel,” a taxidermied rodent that can wag its tail. The purpose: to help study interactions b
Researchers at San Diego State University and the University of California, Davis spent part of a $325,000 National Science Foundation grant to make “RoboSquirrel,” a taxidermied rodent that can wag its tail. The purpose: to help study interactions between squirrels and rattlesnakes. "During these difficult fiscal times of massive deficits, paying $325,000 for a robot squirrel seems a bit squirrelly," the report says. But other robot mammals are in the works, including RoboSquirrel 2.0 and RoboKangarooRat.
Wastebook
The Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission voted to keep open the rarely used Lake Murray State Park Airport, simply to land more federal funds. It averages one flight per month, bases no planes, and is only two miles from other airports. The FAA makes auto
The Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission voted to keep open the rarely used Lake Murray State Park Airport, simply to land more federal funds. It averages one flight per month, bases no planes, and is only two miles from other airports. The FAA makes automatic payments to the airport, which then turns the money around to other projects in state, making it nothing more than a brief layover for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Reuters
The U.S. Forest Service spent $31,071 this year to have Smokey Bear balloons appear at festivals in the Southwest, and the government spent another $13,938 on three Smokey statues. A set of Smokey road signs cost $4,438. In all, that's nearly $50,000
The U.S. Forest Service spent $31,071 this year to have Smokey Bear balloons appear at festivals in the Southwest, and the government spent another $13,938 on three Smokey statues. A set of Smokey road signs cost $4,438. In all, that's nearly $50,000. And over the last seven years, the Forest Service has spent more than $230,000 on Smokey balloon appearances.
Wastebook
The Fullerton Public Library in California used a federal grant to outfit a nearby commuter train station with a vending-machine-style lending library. An average of 3,000 commuters travel through the transportation hub, "meaning that for the cost of
The Fullerton Public Library in California used a federal grant to outfit a nearby commuter train station with a vending-machine-style lending library. An average of 3,000 commuters travel through the transportation hub, "meaning that for the cost of the book machine, every commuter could have beengiven a gift card to purchase the book of their choice."
Wastebook
The Alabama Watermelon Association got $25,000 in state-allocated federal funds — part of a $401,367 grant from the Department of Agriculture — to have its spokeswoman go on a promotional tour. The Alabama Watermelon Queen, who won the crown after pa
The Alabama Watermelon Association got $25,000 in state-allocated federal funds — part of a $401,367 grant from the Department of Agriculture — to have its spokeswoman go on a promotional tour. The Alabama Watermelon Queen, who won the crown after participating in evening gown and seed-spitting competition, may even have traveled to Capitol Hill to help "industry lobbyists carry their concerns" to Congress.
Flickr/Alabama Watermelon Association
The National Endowment for the Arts has given $84,000 over the last three years to the Circus Day Foundation, now known as Circus Harmony, for a one-year circus arts program that teaches students how to juggle, hula hoop and other circus skills.
The National Endowment for the Arts has given $84,000 over the last three years to the Circus Day Foundation, now known as Circus Harmony, for a one-year circus arts program that teaches students how to juggle, hula hoop and other circus skills.
REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson
The Abington Public Library in Massachusetts used part of an $11,700 grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services to host a Star Wars event. "The Star Wars franchise has grossed over $4.5 billion over the past 35 years, so taxpayer
The Abington Public Library in Massachusetts used part of an $11,700 grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services to host a Star Wars event. "The Star Wars franchise has grossed over $4.5 billion over the past 35 years, so taxpayers may wonder why the government is subsidizing fan events for one of the most popular and successful movie series in the universe," Coburn's report says. Maybe it was the power of the Dark Side.
Handout