Everyone knows governments handle huge budgets, but not everyone realizes how often that money gets wasted. From outrageous research studies to unnecessary projects, government waste can be mind-blowing—and frustrating.
In this article, we’ll walk through 50 real-world examples of government waste that will make you think twice about where your tax dollars go.
What Is Government Waste?
Government waste happens when public money is spent inefficiently, unnecessarily, or irresponsibly. It often results from poor planning, lack of oversight, corruption, or simply outdated programs that keep getting funded.
Now, let’s dive into some jaw-dropping examples.
50 Examples of Government Waste
Here’s a categorized list to make it easy to skim and understand.
1. Absurd Research Projects
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$2.6 million to train Chinese prostitutes to drink responsibly.
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$1 million to study how long shrimp can run on treadmills.
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$3 million to study the gaming habits of senior citizens.
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$387,000 to study the effects of Swedish massages on rabbits.
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$856,000 for a study on whether online dating works better than bars.
Why it matters:
Sometimes scientific curiosity doesn’t match up with common sense spending.
2. Infrastructure and Construction Boondoggles
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$43 million gas station built in Afghanistan that should have cost $500,000.
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$400 million for a failed prison project in Illinois that was never used.
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$319 million on a new U.S. embassy in Norway that took over a decade to build.
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$2 billion spent on a failed border technology program.
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$120 million wasted on a road in Alaska leading to nowhere.
Infrastructure insight:
Big projects need big management. Without it, money gets swallowed fast.
3. Unnecessary or Duplicative Programs
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$25 billion lost annually due to duplicated federal programs.
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47 different programs across agencies for job training.
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82 separate programs to improve teacher quality.
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56 programs to teach financial literacy.
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20 different programs funding homelessness research.
Bottom line:
Overlap between departments often means wasted funds and confusion for the public.
4. Lavish Conferences and Meetings
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$4.1 million spent on a General Services Administration (GSA) Las Vegas conference.
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$50 million on IRS conferences that included expensive training videos.
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$1.6 million for a federal conference that featured a “clown and mind reader.”
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$700,000 for a training conference where employees stayed at luxury resorts.
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$30,000 spent on cookies for a single conference event.
Real-world example:
Sometimes it feels like government agencies think they’re planning weddings, not meetings.
5. Inefficient Welfare and Assistance Programs
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$1.4 billion in overpayments for food stamps in a single year.
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$17 billion improperly paid out in unemployment benefits.
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$5.6 billion lost due to Medicaid fraud and improper payments.
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$135 million in tax credits given to prisoners.
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$9 billion lost yearly due to improper payments in the Earned Income Tax Credit program.
Important takeaway:
Welfare programs are vital, but without accountability, they bleed money.
6. Military Spending Gone Wild
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$28 million for forest camouflage uniforms for soldiers in Afghanistan (a country with almost no forests).
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$600 million lost to canceled Army equipment programs.
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$1 billion spent on a Navy aircraft carrier with massive cost overruns.
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$2.7 billion wasted on weapons programs that were later canceled.
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$486 million for aircraft sold as scrap.
Military lesson:
Strong defense is important, but bad budgeting leads to massive waste.
7. Egregious Examples in Foreign Aid
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$50 million to support tourism in Tunisia.
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$10 million for a Pakistani version of Sesame Street.
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$3 million to send American jazz musicians around the world.
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$2 million for a study of social interactions in Kazakhstan.
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$6 billion unaccounted for during reconstruction efforts in Iraq.
Quick note:
Foreign aid can have benefits—but sometimes it lacks accountability.
8. Environmental and Energy Blunders
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$528 million loan to Solyndra, a solar company that went bankrupt.
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$68 million to maintain unused buildings at Department of Energy sites.
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$3 million for a climate change musical.
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$1 billion wasted on abandoned green energy programs.
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$15 million spent on a solar panel project that produced almost no power.
Energy truth:
Going green is good—but without oversight, green projects turn into money pits.
9. Tech and IT Disasters
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$2 billion for the failed HealthCare.gov rollout.
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$179 million for a Veterans Affairs scheduling system that never worked.
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$30 million wasted on a new government payroll system that failed.
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$5 billion spent on IRS computer upgrades, still incomplete after 20 years.
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$100 million for a cybersecurity program that hackers easily bypassed.
Modern problem:
Even in the digital age, government often moves at a snail’s pace—and at huge cost.
10. Smaller but Still Outrageous Wastes
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$3,000 to study cow flatulence.
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$50,000 to build a robot squirrel.
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$250,000 for a “Prom Week” video game study.
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$20,000 to produce handmade soap and lotion for a conference.
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$70,000 for a reality show about climate change.
Lesson here:
Even small amounts add up when hundreds of agencies are spending without care.
Why Does Government Waste Happen?
Government waste often happens because of:
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Poor oversight and accountability
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Incentives to spend all budgets before the fiscal year ends
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Complicated bureaucratic processes
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Lack of transparency
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Political favoritism and corruption
Without citizens paying attention, waste becomes business as usual.
Quick Table: 50 Examples of Government Waste at a Glance
| Category | Example | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Research | Shrimp on treadmills | $1 million |
| Construction | Afghan gas station | $43 million |
| Duplicative Programs | 47 job training programs | $25 billion/year |
| Conferences | GSA Las Vegas trip | $4.1 million |
| Welfare Mismanagement | Food stamp overpayments | $1.4 billion/year |
| Military Overspending | Forest uniforms in desert | $28 million |
| Foreign Aid | Pakistani Sesame Street | $10 million |
| Environmental | Solyndra bankruptcy | $528 million |
| Tech Failures | HealthCare.gov rollout | $2 billion |
| Small Wastes | Robot squirrel project | $50,000 |
Conclusion: Paying Attention to Government Spending Matters
Government waste is not just a few bad apples—it’s a systemic problem that drains billions every year. Knowing where and how this waste happens empowers citizens to demand better transparency, smarter budgeting, and real accountability.
Want to take action?
Stay informed, vote smart, and never stop questioning how your money is spent. Every dollar counts—and it’s your money on the line.
The more we know, the better we can demand change.