Rather than admit the department could run efficiently on a smaller budget, federal agencies embark on a shopping spree. This is the “use it or lose it” spending phenomenon – and it happens every year on the taxpayer dime.
The problem isn’t new and it isn’t going away. In fact, it’s getting worse. Our report shows a 15 percent increase in use-it-or-lose-it contracts from last year to this year. From 2015, that’s a 39 percent increase.
Here are ten ways the government spent your tax dollars in last year’s use-it-or-lose-it spending spree:
$26.8 million at Trump’s Executive Office of the President – In the final month of fiscal year 2018, President Donald Trump’s office signed 16 contracts, purchasing office furniture, passenger vehicles, cameras, newspaper subscriptions, and more. From 2015 to 2018, there was a 60-percent increase in use-it-or-lose-it spending by the office of the president.
Millions of dollars on Crab and Lobster – As the fiscal year wrapped up, federal agencies celebrated by splurging on luxury food items. The Department of Defense (DOD) originally reported spending $2.3 million on snow crab, Alaskan king crab, and crab legs and claws, plus another $2.3 million on lobster tail. Additionally, agencies spent nearly $300,000 on steak (ribeye, top sirloin, and flank).
However, the DOD just admitted to inflated disclosures. Their updated numbers reveal lobster and crab purchases amounted to $1.6 million in September 2018 and $25.4 million during an 18-month period. We have additional questions for the agency. Here is a video showing our data download and quantification of $2.3 million (Sept 2018) and $22.1 million (FY2018) in lobster tail purchases as reported by the DOD to the federal government's official transparency portal at USAspending.gov.
- $491 Million to Redecorate – In the final month of fiscal year 2018, federal agencies signed nearly 10,000 contracts to purchase furniture. Notably, the Department of Defense spent $9,341 on a Wexford leather club chair.
- More than $300,000 on Booze – For some agencies, the end of the fiscal year seems to be one big party. The Department of Defense and the Department of State purchased beer, wine, and whiskey. Contract recipients included Coors Brewing Company ($76,173); E&J Gallo Winery ($16,510), and more.
- More Than $800 Million to Load the Gun Locker – Fifteen agencies made last-minute purchases of guns, ammunition, and other weaponry during the final month of the fiscal year. Even non-military agencies including the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Office of Personnel Management, the Small Business Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency bought more than $100,000 in guns and ammunition.
- $9.8 Million on Workout Equipment and Recreation – Federal agencies must have set new fitness goals when they spent $462,791 on treadmills and dumbbells and $22,505 on CrossFit equipment. Spending tax dollars is all fun and games according to the $1.2 million agencies spent on playground equipment, $50,000 on skis and ski poles, and $12,000 on a foosball table.
- $462 Million Self Promotion Machine – Federal agencies spent millions on public relations, marketing research and public opinion, communications, and advertising in the final month of fiscal year 2018. The feds already employ 5,000 public affairs officers. It wasn’t enough.
- Nearly $300 Million on Transportation – Federal agencies drove up taxpayer costs, signing nearly 3,000 transportation-related contracts in the final month of fiscal year 2018. Agencies purchased passenger vehicles from Navistar Defense, Ford Motor Company, and General Motors. Additionally, the government purchased nontraditional vehicles including golf carts, motorcycles, and snowmobiles.
- $7.7 Million on iPhones and iPads – Federal employees were sure to update their cell phones before the fiscal year ended, contracting with AT&T, Apple, and T-Mobile. These purchases included iPads at Veterans Affairs, cellular data at the Department of Defense, and a bulk order of iPhone 8s and blackberry replacements. The Department of State spent $107,097 on Apple’s latest iPhone X and screen protectors.
- $49 Million on Miscellaneous Spending – The federal agencies’ last-minute shopping spree purchases range from batteries and books, to toys and tableware. Using the purchasing schedules of the General Services Administration, the Army and Navy spent $53,000 on china tableware; the Army Recruiting Command purchased $42,500 on inflatable games; and the Air Force Junior ROTC spent $34,000 on model rockets.
