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Government Corruption
The US Treasury Spent HOW MUCH Illegally? Now You Know Why the Left Wants to Stop DOGE
2025-02-09
[RedState] Congress illegally spent at least $516 billion in 2024 on programs for which there was no authorization. Yes, billion, with a "b." A stunning report by the Congressional Budget Office underscores the reason for the legal assault upon President Trump's right to audit payments by the Treasury Department.

In a report titled "Expired and Expiring Authorizations of Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2024," the CBO observes: "Historically, House and Senate rules restrict lawmakers from considering an appropriation if it lacks a current authorization." Nevertheless, "CBO estimates that $516 billion was appropriated for 2024 for activities with expired authorizations, which the agency identified for each House and Senate authorizing committee and appropriations subcommittee." That $516 billion in illegal payments cover "1,264 authorizations of appropriations that expired before the beginning of fiscal year 2024 and 251 authorizations of appropriations that were set to expire by the end of fiscal year 2024." The legal authority for some of these payments expired 40 — that's not a typo — years ago.

This data reveals a couple of things. First, Congress has established a shadow funding stream for pet projects of either the institution or of senior members that allows money to be shoveled into a porkulus spending bill under the guise of preventing a government shutdown. The money is paid even though there is no legal authority for the disbursement. This is what, among lesser beings, would be called embezzlement, but no word exists to describe the activity on this scale. Where embezzlement gets the plebians a stiff jail term, it gets members of Congress reelected and seats on corporate boards.

Making this all the more intriguing is that it would seem that the President could stop those payments without worrying about violating the Impoundment Control Act as they are not legal appropriations by Congress's rules.

I will guarantee you that when DOGE really digs into this, they are going to find other ongoing illegal payments on a Biblical scale.
Posted by:NoMoreBS

#6  subsequent to DOGE being blocked at Treasury, DOGE and the Dept worked out a method to do at least part of what needs to be done, that is, completing data for every payment

Posted by: lord garth   2025-02-09 11:34  

#5  Congress actually does not spend much money itself. The most likely initial jail birds will be bureaucrats. The kickbacks will be what gets the Congressmen and Senators. That won’t be Musk; that will be Bondi and Kash.
Posted by: Super Hose   2025-02-09 10:32  

#4  Maybe just sloppy bookkeeping, for part? Still, inquiring minds want to know.

$128B in Veterans Affairs, and $153B in Health, Education, Labor, and pensions. Maybe just forgot to renew worthy appropriations?

The CBO Report, July 2024
Posted by: Bobby   2025-02-09 08:37  

#3  
That's almost 1/3 the 2024 budget deficit of $1.89T.

How about also checking deeper, to see which Federal Dept Mgt. Collected extra $$$$?
Posted by: NN2N1   2025-02-09 07:28  

#2  Elon Musk alleges $50B in fraud at Treasury after judge blocks DOGE audit
Posted by: Skidmark   2025-02-09 06:43  

#1  Now that he knows (and I bet my life Chuckie Schumer knows) he can act. Please act swiftly President Trump. And consider appropriate punishment for the thieves in Congress, be the Dem or Pub.
Posted by: Whiskey Mike   2025-02-09 02:48  

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