Sen. Rand Paul’s Annual ‘Festivus’ Report: a Whopping $1,008,313,329,626.12 of Government Waste

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul just released his annual “Festivus Report” of wasteful government spending. The 2024 listing does not disappoint – until you remember that all of us are paying for this abuse of taxpayers’ funds by electing the congressional wastrels.

This year, Sen. Paul  highlights a whopping $1,008,313,329,626.12. “That’s over $1 trillion in government waste, including things like ice-skating drag queens, a $12 Million Las Vegas pickleball complex, $4,840,082 on Ukrainian influencers, and more! No matter how much money the government has wasted, politicians keep
demanding even more,” Sen. Paul reports.

Last year there was $900,000,000,000 of waste in Sen. Paul’s Festival report – nearly double 2022’s report.

“Who’s to blame for our crushing national debt? Everybody,” Paul says. “This year, members of both political parties in Congress voted for massive spending bills, filled with subsidies for underperforming industries, continued military aid to Ukraine, and controversial climate initiatives.  As Congress spends to reward its favored pet projects, the American taxpayers are forced to pay through high prices and crippling interest rates.”

“The same big spenders teamed up, yet again, to continue sending Americans’ hard-earned money to foreign countries, funding endless wars, all while STILL ignoring our wide-open southern border.”

“So, before we get to the Feats of Strength, it’s time for my Airing of (spending) Grievances!”

Festivus is a holiday celebrated on December 23rd, created on the Jerry Seinfeld Show by Frank Costanza, George Costanza’s father, as an alternative to Christmas. According to Seinfeld Fandom, “He came upon the idea after pummeling a man in the face in a toy-store dispute over a doll (for George). In his own words, ‘As I rained blows upon him, I realized, ‘There had to be another way!’”

Here are a few of my favorites on Sen. Paul’s long Festivus list:

Ghost Towns on the Government’s Dime: The federal government spent $10 billion on maintaining, leasing, and furnishing almost entirely empty buildings.

Taxpayers Fund a Disinformation Index: The Department of State (DOS) wasted $330,000 to fund censorship of non- liberal and conservative media.

The Department of the Interior (DOI) spent $12 Million on a Las Vegas Pickleball Complex.

Oh Rats! HHS Spends Nearly Half a Million on a Depressing Study of Lonely, Starved Rats: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) spent $419,470 to determine if lonely rats seek cocaine more than happy rats.

The Influencer Effect Hits Foreign Policy: The Department of State (DOS) squandered $4,840,082 on influencers.

The Department of State (DOS) spent $3 Million for ‘Girl-Centered Climate Action’ in Brazil.

Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo, There Goes Your Tax Dollars Too! The federal government spent $7,026,689 on various magical projects.

Because Who Needs a Secure U.S. Border, Anyway? The Department of State (DOS) spent $2.1 million for Paraguayan Border Security.

Forever Fauci – he Funded Feline COVID Experiments: The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) spent $2.24 million on COVID experiments.

Big Bird Goes to Baghdad: The Agency for International Development (USAID) is spending $20 million on “Ahlan Simsim” a new Sesame Street show in Iraq.

And from the “you can’t make this $%!* up” file, Dragging Tax Dollars onto Thin Ice: The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) awarded the Bearded Ladies Cabaret a $10,000 grant to support a cabaret show on ice skates focused on climate change.

I’d say “enjoy this report” except it’s not meant to be enjoyed. Be very angry about it and support the incoming Trump DOGE agency which together with President Donald Trump, has the potential to transform how government is run.

Oh, Merry Christmas and Happy Festivus.