Investigative Economics
Investigative Economics
Episode 24: Throwing Gold Bars Off the Federal Titanic
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Episode 24: Throwing Gold Bars Off the Federal Titanic

The V.A.'s $1.5 Trillion Financial Reassessment

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December 5, 2024
The V.A.'s $1.5 Trillion Financial Reassessment

In 2022, the net cost of running the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) was an astounding $1.9 trillion based on U.S. Treasury financial reports.

More Recent Flagrant Spending: Climate, Broadband, and Indian Health Services

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December 11, 2024
More Recent Flagrant Spending: Climate, Broadband, and Indian Health Services

While the pandemic was known to have caused the federal government to spend wildly through programs like the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)—with over $4.6 trillion in COVID-19 obligations to date—that frivolous spending spree has masked a simultaneous spending spree on sundry other non-COVID programs.

HHS's Spending Spree

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December 3, 2024
HHS's Spending Spree

In 2018, payments for Medicaid switched to a block grant system for certain states, including the largest state Medicaid system: California.

The Explosion in LGBT Grants Under Biden

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November 22, 2024
The Explosion in LGBT Grants Under Biden

In 2012, total grants obligated by the federal government related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) issues—either to an LGBT organization or related to LGBT issues—totaled $5 million according to data from USA Spending. In 2022 alone it was $1.5 billion.

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