Subscriber Special: Trump's Agencies Spent $11 Billion Last Week

October 3, 2017 12:40 PM

"The end of the fiscal year doesn't just look like
one big party. It is one big party."
Forbes | October 3, 2017

An $11.1 billion federal agency spending spree
exposed by OpenTheBooks.com

Use It Or Lose It - Trump's Agencies Spent $11 Billion Last Week In Year-End Spending Spree

Published at Forbes

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Every September, the end of the fiscal year sparks a "use it or lose it" spending frenzy as federal agencies race to use up what's left in their annual budgets.

It's a phenomenon that should drive taxpayers crazy. Agencies are afraid that if they spend less than their budget allows, Congress might send them less money in the next year.

Read our Forbes editorial, Use It Or Lose It - Trump's Agencies Spent $11 Billion Last Week In Year-End Spending Spree.

Here's a sample of how your money was wasted last week:

The Swamp Starts Here - Even the president was in on this year's spending frenzy. In the last week of FY2017, President Donald Trump's office alone spent $21.8 million, which is more than three times the $6 million former President Barack Obama's office spent to close out FY2016.
Armored Vehicles for HHS - In then-Secretary Tom Price's final week in office, the Department of Health and Human Services led the charge, spending more than $2 billion. This spending included a $1.5 million deal with Square One Armoring Services Company for a fleet of armored vehicles.
Booze-Based Diplomacy - The State Department spent nearly $79,000 on booze for ten American embassies including Nigeria ($4,288), Peru ($4,453), Denmark ($4,736), Belgium ($6,760), Zambia ($6,429), and Sri Lanka ($9,613).

Read our Forbes editorial, Use It Or Lose It - Trump's Agencies Spent $11 Billion Last Week In Year-End Spending Spree.

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