Stop Waste

In the fight to control government spending and reduce our national deficits and debt, Congress’ first priority should be stopping wasteful spending. Every year, the federal government wastes billions of tax dollars on obsolete or unnecessary goods and services. ...More

For years, many special interests have been successful at securing wasteful subsidies through direct appropriations or through the tax code. Members of Congress who want to bring federal dollars to their districts have inserted spending into appropriations bills for things we simply do not need. Federal agencies have wasted federal resources through mismanagement and poor spending oversight. Ultimately, responsibility for wasting federal tax dollars rests with Congress, and lawmakers should be held accountable for all of their spending decisions.

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All the latest content from TCS in Stop Waste
Our Take

USEC Posts Net Loss in Second Quarter; Seeking Further Taxpayer Handouts

August 08, 2013

USEC Posts Net Loss in Second Quarter; Seeking Further Taxpayer Handouts The United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC) recently released its midterm financial report and in addition to troubling financials,... Read More

Our Take

Congressional Summer Ends with a THUD

August 01, 2013

Congress is on the verge of heading home for a five-week vacation (“home work period” is the euphemism they use). In the run-up to heading... Read More

Our Take

Essential Air Service: Why Reform Isn’t Reducing Overall Cost

July 30, 2013

Early last year, the President signed the “FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012,” authorizing spending for the Federal Aviation... Read More

Letters & Testimony

Letter to House: Support McClintock-Bridenstine-Hudson Amendment to Cut Essential Air Service

July 30, 2013

Support McClintock amendment to cut Essential Air Service funding.... Read More

Letters & Testimony

Letter to Senate: Support Common Sense Amendments to Transportation/HUD Appropriations Bill

July 24, 2013

Propsals would cut wasteful spending and increase transparency.... Read More

Our Take

A Lesson in What Saving Money Means to Congress: Essential Air Service

July 11, 2013

A Lesson in What Saving Money Means to Congress: Essential Air Service Essential Air Service (EAS) reforms passed as part of last year’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorization bill were intended to... Read More

More in-depth material from TCS in Stop Waste
Fact Sheet

Small Modular Reactors: Federal Subsidies for Mini Nukes

July 23, 2013

Small Modular Reactors: Federal Subsidies for Mini Nukes The Department of Energy (DOE) is asking Congress to provide $452 million in taxpayer subsidies to help license up to two experimental small... Read More

Awards

Golden Fleece: KABATA - Taxpayer Funded Cheerleaders for Alaska’s Knik Arm Bridge

June 26, 2013

Golden Fleece: KABATA - Taxpayer Funded Cheerleaders for Alaska’s Knik Arm Bridge Summary Over the last decade, the Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority (KABATA) spent millions of federal taxpayer dollars on a project that... Read More

Reports & Data

Essential Air Service Dataset

April 04, 2013

Essential Air Service Dataset The Essential Air Service (EAS) is a federal subsidy program created in the 1970s as part of airline deregulation. Though the program was... Read More

Policy Brief

Analysis of Selected Sections of S. 601, Water Resources Development Act of 2013

March 20, 2013

Analysis of Selected Sections of S. 601, Water Resources Development Act of 2013 The Senate's Environment and Public Works committee is taking up a water project bill that could cost taxpayers billions.... Read More

TCS appearances in the media in Stop Waste

Most Southwest Idaho Forests Have Burned Since 1985

September 17, 2013 | Idaho Statesman

Wildfires since 1985 have burned 69 percent of the Payette National Forest and more than 50 percent of the Boise National Forest, a new... Read More

Analysis: Clipped wings: How essential is Essential Air Service?

September 17, 2013 | Great Falls Tribune

The program is called Essential Air Service, and its stated intent is to ensure that small communities distant from regional airport hubs... Read More

Trinity Uptown Bridges in Fort Worth Will Initially Span Dirt, Not Water

September 16, 2013 | Fort Worth Star Telegram

FORT WORTH — They’re not exactly bridges to nowhere, but when three new bridges in Fort Worth’s massive Trinity Uptown project are complete... Read More

Critics Pan LIRR Plan to Spend Sandy Cash on Double Track

September 16, 2013 | Long Island Newsday

The Long Island Rail Road wants to spend $300 million in federal Sandy money to complete its Double Track effort between Farmingdale and... Read More

House Makes Proposal for Waterways Projects

September 13, 2013 | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A bipartisan group of congressional members has introduced legislation that would change the way billions of dollars of water infrastructure... Read More

Weekly Wastebasket

Our weekly reality-check for federal spending. View All

August 29, 2013

Back to School

As kids head back to school, teachers are crossing their fingers hoping they won’t have to spend hours... Read More