Senator Rand Paul’s annual “Festivus Report” exposes over $1 trillion in questionable government spending, including $10 billion wasted on empty federal buildings.
At a Glance
- Sen. Rand Paul’s 2024 Festivus Report identifies over $1 trillion in wasteful government spending
- $10 billion spent on maintaining, leasing, and furnishing underutilized federal buildings
- Highlights include $12 million for a Las Vegas pickleball complex and $237,960 for CDC solar-powered picnic tables
- Paul plans to work with the proposed Department of Government Efficiency to cut $2 trillion in waste
Festivus Report Unveils Shocking Government Waste
Senator Rand Paul’s annual Festivus Report, inspired by the popular “Seinfeld” episode, has once again shone a spotlight on egregious government spending. This year’s report identifies over $1 trillion in questionable expenditures, raising serious concerns about fiscal responsibility in Washington.
The report comes at a time when the national debt has surpassed $36 trillion, with the Congressional Budget Office predicting an addition of $6.4 billion to the debt daily over the next decade. Senator Paul’s findings criticize both political parties for their role in this fiscal crisis.
“Last Festivus, we bemoaned the national debt nearing $34 trillion. In just a year, Washington’s career politicians and bureaucrats have managed to push it beyond $36 trillion—unsurprisingly, with hardly a second thought,” wrote Paul in the report.
🚨 BREAKING: Senator Rand Paul releases his yearly report on government waste – the "Festivus Report."
$1 TRILLION. In government waste.
Highlights of INSANE, useless spending:
– $3M for "Girl-Centered Climate Action" in Brazil
– $20M for a new Sesame Street show
– $10K for the… pic.twitter.com/ubQziZ2dc6— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 23, 2024
Shocking Examples of Government Waste
The report highlights numerous instances of questionable spending. A staggering $10 billion was wasted on underutilized office buildings, with 17 out of 24 federal agencies using only 25% or less of their space in 2023. This issue was exacerbated by the shift to remote work during the coronavirus pandemic.
Other eyebrow-raising expenditures include $12 million for a pickleball complex in Las Vegas, $4.8 million on Ukrainian influencers, and $237,960 for solar-powered picnic tables at the CDC. The report also notes $10,000 spent on a drag queen ice-skating performance related to climate change and $2.1 million on border security for Paraguay.
“This year, I am highlighting a whopping $1,008,313,329,626.12. That’s over $1 trillion in government waste, including things like ice-skating ‘Beards on Ice’ drag queens, a $12 million Las Vegas pickleball complex, $4,840,082 on Ukrainian influencers, and more,” wrote Paul.
Addressing the Waste Crisis
Senator Paul has announced plans to collaborate with the proposed Department of Government Efficiency to cut $2 trillion in waste. He has shared his findings with Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, both tasked with heading the department, to help curb government waste.
The Festivus Report serves as a stark reminder of the need for greater fiscal responsibility and oversight in government spending. As the national debt continues to climb, the call for action grows louder, with Senator Paul leading the charge for government efficiency and accountability.
ICYMI: This morning on @foxnews I shared my annual 'Festivus' report spotlighting wasteful government spending. https://t.co/Jk4Qjb5CO2
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 24, 2024
