While Congress frets over
a government shutdown, federal bureaucrats are engaged in a spending frenzy as
the clock ticks toward the end of the fiscal year.
a government shutdown, federal bureaucrats are engaged in a spending frenzy as
the clock ticks toward the end of the fiscal year.
The Washington Post
reports that the annual tradition of “use it or lose” spending is in its final
hours, and it appears the buying frenzy by federal agencies will meet or exceed
the end-of- September spike experienced over the past three years.
reports that the annual tradition of “use it or lose” spending is in its final
hours, and it appears the buying frenzy by federal agencies will meet or exceed
the end-of- September spike experienced over the past three years.
The Post’s David
A. Fahrenthold found that in fiscal years 2010-12, each time the feds spent
more than $40 billion in the final week. In 2012, for example, the departments
spent 9 percent of the entire years’ worth of expenditures in the last week
leading up to the Sept. 30 end to the fiscal year.
A. Fahrenthold found that in fiscal years 2010-12, each time the feds spent
more than $40 billion in the final week. In 2012, for example, the departments
spent 9 percent of the entire years’ worth of expenditures in the last week
leading up to the Sept. 30 end to the fiscal year.
Sen.
Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), one of Congress’ leading watchdogs of wasteful
federal spending, said that agencies are always concerned that they will create
a new, lower benchmark for their budget if they don’t spend it all. Coburn told
Fahrenthold: “… Instead of being praised for not spending all your money, you
get cut for not spending all your money. And so we’ve got a perverse incentive
in there.”
Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), one of Congress’ leading watchdogs of wasteful
federal spending, said that agencies are always concerned that they will create
a new, lower benchmark for their budget if they don’t spend it all. Coburn told
Fahrenthold: “… Instead of being praised for not spending all your money, you
get cut for not spending all your money. And so we’ve got a perverse incentive
in there.”
Here’s a portion of the
Post report:
Post report:
“This past week, the Department of Veterans Affairs
bought $562,000 worth of artwork.
bought $562,000 worth of artwork.
“And in a single purchase, the Coast Guard spent $178,000 on ‘Cubicle
Furniture Rehab,’” which apparently amounted to nothing more than replacing a
bunch of office cubicles with a more modern version.
Furniture Rehab,’” which apparently amounted to nothing more than replacing a
bunch of office cubicles with a more modern version.
The graphs below, created by the Post, show
these spending patterns in detail:
these spending patterns in detail:
