It’s essentially the most fantastic time of the yr — for airing authorities grievances.
Sen. Rand Paul’s (R-Ky.) blistering new Festivus Report 2025 dropped this week, torching Washington for what it says is a staggering $1.63 trillion in authorities waste, together with a jaw-dropping $1.22 trillion simply to cowl curiosity on the nationwide debt.
The annual report, launched within the spirit of Seinfeld’s famously cranky vacation, accuses federal companies of blowing taxpayer money on all the pieces from insect-eating propaganda to drugged canine, drunken ferrets and monkeys enjoying a “Value Is Proper” knockoff online game.
And that’s simply the tip of the iceberg.
Bug buffets and influencer remedy
Among the many extra eyebrow-raising line objects: practically $2.5 million from the Nationwide Science Basis to advertise bugs as “meals for people.” Mmm, bug buffets on Uncle Sam’s dime.
In the meantime, the Division of Well being and Human Companies shelled out $1.5 million for what the report dubs “TikTok remedy,” utilizing movie star influencers to discourage drug use in Latino communities.
One other $40 million-plus went to influencer campaigns urging minority teams to get COVID vaccines — years after lockdowns and mandates ended.
Booze-soaked ferrets, cocaine canine
Animal experiments featured prominently within the report’s corridor of disgrace, as they’ve in years previous.
Taxpayers paid greater than $1 million for a Veterans Affairs research that compelled teenaged ferrets to binge-drink booze — earlier than killing them.
The NIH additionally spent $5.2 million dosing canine with cocaine — once more — whereas $13.8 million extra went towards controversial beagle experiments tied to beforehand reported Fauci-era grants, in line with the report.
Elsewhere, monkeys with steel headposts screwed into their skulls to maintain their heads in place as they had been compelled to play a Plinko-style online game — on the tune of $14.6 million.
Local weather cartoons and woke campuses
Overseas spending didn’t escape scrutiny both.
The State Division forked over $244,252 for a kids’s climate-change cartoon in Pakistan, whereas one other $1.5 million promoted American motion pictures and video video games abroad, in line with the report.
Again dwelling, Northwestern College obtained $3.3 million to construct “scientific neighborhoods,” set up “secure house ambassadors” and type committees aimed toward dismantling “systemic racism” — regardless of sitting on a multibillion-dollar endowment.
EV chargers that don’t cost — and migrant perks
The report additionally takes intention at Biden-era infrastructure spending, noting that $7.5 billion was accepted for electrical car chargers — however solely 68 stations are literally up and operating nationwide.
The Division of Well being and Human Companies is accused of blowing $22.6 billion on migrant applications that included furnishings, automotive repairs and residential down funds, elevating alarms about incentives on the southern border.
Debt bomb ticking louder
Paul’s greatest grievance? The debt itself.
The report warns the nationwide debt has surged to just about $40 trillion, with the federal government now borrowing greater than $75,000 each second — a tempo critics say is unsustainable.
“That is the type of spending that makes you marvel if anybody in Washington has ever heard the phrase ‘priorities,’” the report says.
As for options? Paul once more pushes sweeping price range cuts — and promised that subsequent yr’s Festivus will function much more grievances.
In Washington, there’s at all times one thing new to hold on the aluminum pole.
