MAPPING THE GROWTH OF GOVERNMENT

 The analysis from OpenTheBooks reveals that government spending has significantly increased, outpacing both staff growth and inflation across various agencies. This report highlights concerns regarding wasteful expenditures and the need for improved transparency in federal spending.

• Outrageous Spending: Noteworthy expenditures include $22 billion by the Office of Refugee Resettlement for migrant aid and controversial foreign programs funded by USAID.

• Data Collection Issues: The Federal Register’s record-keeping is poor, with many agencies outdated or defunct, complicating efforts to track government spending and staffing accurately.

• Expenditure Growth: Although some agencies have not seen a large increase in personnel, spending often rises sharply.

• Examples of Spending vs. Headcount:

• National Institutes of Health (NIH): Headcount increased by 21. 5% since 2000, while spending increased by 301%.

• Department of Education: Employee count decreased by 13. 9%, yet spending skyrocketed by 749%.

• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Headcount grew by 290% since 2000, while spending increased 2,096%.

• USAID: Staffing grew by 218%, but their spending rose to 467. 7% of earlier levels.

• Call for Transparency: OpenTheBooks aims to create a detailed map of federal agency growth, examining where taxpayer dollars are going and analyzing efficiency.

OpenTheBooks is committed to tracking the changes in federal agencies to help taxpayers understand government spending. By providing ongoing updates and insights into agency growth and expenses, they aim to foster accountability and transparency in how federal funds are utilized. 

https://openthebooks.substack.com/p/mapping-the-growth-of-government?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=775254&post_id=157432903&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=f2uvx&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email