While the government was shut down in October, members of Congress were acting like the fate of American health care, defense and more hung in the balance. But behind the scenes they had still been fighting to secure cash for pet projects like elephant statues, squash courts and thousands of other earmarks.

The shutdown finally ended when H.R. 5371 was signed into law on November 12. Federal employees were out of work and food stamps were in jeopardy, but lawmakers still found time to stuff 862 earmarks worth $2.4 billion into the bill, according to Open the Books’ review of federal disclosures.

Congress has until January 30 to send a full federal budget to President Trump and avoid another shutdown. The remaining appropriations bills still under debate contain 2,381 Senate earmarks worth another $4.7 billion and 4,408 House earmarks worth $6 billion, for a total of $10.7 billion more taxpayer dollars being considered for pet projects. 

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