President Donald Trump is right: There’s a lot of ridiculous gimmicks and wasteful projects in the new massive spending bill.
And the good news is there’s something that Trump can do about it, even though he recently signed the huge COVID-19 stimulus and omnibus spending bill into law.
While signing the bill, the president released a statement announcing that he would use his authority to request that Congress rescind wasteful spending from the bill.
Under the Impoundment Control Act, the president can propose that Congress rescind, or cancel, specific unspent budget authority from programs he has determined are unneeded.
The rescission package would be considered by the House and Senate under expedited procedures, without being subject to a filibuster in the Senate, and with protections for a minority of members to prevent the bill from getting bottled up in committee proceedings.
This makes sense. The 5,593-page behemoth spending package was loaded with overspending, gimmicks, and dozens of unrelated other legislative provisions. It was written behind closed doors and voted on within hours of it being made public, preventing any member of Congress or the American people from understanding what was actually in it.
Here are nine wasteful programs funded by the omnibus, which has $1.4 trillion in spending, that should be rescinded:
1. Washington Metro: $150 Million
The omnibus provides $150 million for grants to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, the D.C. Metro.
This is yet another example of the capital city getting special benefits at the expense of the taxpayers from around the country. No other local transit system gets its own line-item appropriation. The Heritage Foundation has previously recommended this funding be eliminated.
2. DC Tuition Assistance Grants: $40 Million
The omnibus provides $40 million for federal payment for resident tuition support, which funds the D.C. Tuition Assistance Grant program to subsidize the out-of-state tuition for D.C. residents attending college in other states.
Simply put, it is wrong for taxpayers across the county to provide a special subsidy for residents of Washington, D.C., who are also eligible for all the other federal college benefit programs. This program has not even been authorized by Congress since 2012. The president’s budget recommended the program be eliminated.
3. Kennedy Center: $40.4 Million
The omnibus provides a total of $40.4 million for operations and maintenance and capital repair and restoration for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Using taxpayer funds to subsidize D.C.’s swanky opera house is one of the least defensible items in the entire federal budget. The Kennedy Center already received an additional $25 million as a part of the CARES Act. The Heritage Foundation has previously recommended eliminating this funding.
4. National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities: $335 Million
The omnibus provides $167.5 million each to the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
These two programs use federal tax dollars to make grants supporting arts and humanities projects, something that is much better done by private contributions. The two programs also received an additional $75 million from the CARES Act. Both the president’s budget and The Heritage Foundation have recommended these programs be eliminated.
5. Wilson Center: $14 Million
The omnibus provides $14 million for the Wilson Center, a federally subsidized think tank. Federal subsidies make up about half of the center’s budget, and the dedicated appropriation is not needed nor is it appropriate. The president’s budget and The Heritage Foundation have recommended federal funding for this center be ended.
6. Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Training: $93.9 Million
The omnibus provides $93.9 million for the Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Training program, a $2 million increase from the fiscal year 2020 level.
This program is supposed to provide job training for migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Even if this was appropriate for American taxpayers to subsidize, it is duplicative of other job training programs. The president’s budget and The Heritage Foundation have recommended this program be eliminated.
7. Senior Community Service Employment Program: $405 Million
The omnibus provides $405 million for Community Service Employment for Older Americans, which funds the Senior Community Service Employment Program.
This program provides grants meant to subsidize part-time community service activities by the elderly. The program is duplicative of other existing programs, is not cost effective, and nearly half of participants do not complete the program. The president’s budget and The Heritage Foundation have recommended eliminating the program.
8. McGovern-Dole Food for Education: $230 Million
The omnibus provides $230 million for the McGovern-Dole Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, which uses taxpayer dollars to send American food to schools in foreign countries. The president’s budget has recommended this program be ended.
9. Corporation for Public Broadcasting: $495 Million
The omnibus provides $495 million for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, most of which is an advance appropriation for fiscal year 2023.
Funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting has already been provided for the upcoming fiscal year in prior appropriations bills. The organization also received an additional $75 million as a part of the CARES Act.
The federal government should not use taxpayer funds to subsidize television and radio service, a task which is not needed nor appropriate. The president’s budget and The Heritage Foundation have recommended eliminating this funding.
These are just a small handful of examples of wasteful spending in the $1.4 trillion spending package. Even if all of the wasteful or unnecessary spending from the omnibus is rescinded, much more needs to be done in order to have a responsible budget.
Trump proposing a robust rescission package and Congress passing it would be an important first step toward making controlling spending a priority.
I have read through some of the links and the text above, it does not include free monies to Egypt, Somalia, Sudan, Brazil, and a host of other countries. We are proverbially “robbing Peter to Pay Paul”! LOOK AT THE NATIONAL DEBT! IS CONGRESS STUPID?
I see in Heritage Foundation recommends Close Down the Transportation Department’s Maritime Administration and Repeal the Maritime Jones Act. this is stupid, the Jones Act is the only thing protecting America from total dependence of foreign shipping. Could they must be supporting Foreign investments, and foreign ownership in America? It sure sounds like it!
Congress and the left have destroyed the marine industry. Private shipyards are vanishing every day, ocean going ships are built in Asia and Europe only. The few built in America are simply forced by the Jones Act. God forbid we have a war that requires additional shipping.
Fact, we waited on boots and uniforms to be manufactured in China for the US Army for Iraq war, we had given up all garment manufacturing in the US to foreign countries, how the heck will we supply our armies if we are at war with China?
This list is simply stupid, yes many of the pork project should be cut out, but the biggest waste is giving our enemies our cash. Egypt will buy arms from Russia, Somalia, Sudan will also buy from China and Russia. Brazil has massive oil and gas reserves and mineral reserves and do not need our hard earned cash!
Our federal, state and local governments do such outrageous things — and we conservatives do little or nothing to stop it. ENOUGH is ENOUGH. We can revolt by refusing to pay taxes en masse — and promoting term limits, and new candidates who will represent We the People — not crooked lobbyists and big donors. Trump wants to drain the swamp — but did any of us even imagine how deep the swamp is — and how disloyal even key GOP officials are??? OMG. The socialists/communists have been working to take America over for decades, and average Americans are either unaware of it — or indifferent. We won’t realize how precious our Constitutional democratic republic form of America government is until we lose it — and then, it will be too late. WAKE UP, please!!!
OUTLAW LOBBYING and run these criminals out of town, in fact they should ALL be investigated, how many are agents of enemy states? how many are agents of socialism? they are helping to destroy AMERICA by deliberately driving us further and further into debt, LOBBYIST CAUSED THE SWAMP, THEY CORRUPTED THE CARREER POLITICIANS by feeding thier greed with FORIEGN FUNDS, keeping them under control with BLACKMAIL, replace ALL carreer pols now and end the evil. We have the right to recall and investigate our “CIVIL SERVANTS” and replace them if they fail to SERVE US!
how do we get term limits for all elected positions. Government should be about running this country, not careers that enrich the politician financially.
Congress will not support the President to rescind these programs because members of congress probably have their families making money off of these sin full bills.
We will sure missed our President. I am not sure how 2021 will go. We know about the Pandemic.
Great article. And I agree with those commenting that the funds designated for other countries need to be eliminated as well. But, please advise as to what we, the taxpayers, can do to make our voices heard on this topic, and what Amac is doing as well. Thank you.
Would like to see which members of the house and senate voted for this BS.
To me tuition assistance should be the obligation of each of the institutions of higher learning based solely on their rediculous amounts of money in their foundations.
I just read through all the comments so far. What am I missing? Where is the logic is sending $Billions overseas and not taking care of our homeless? The Arts??!!! They should all be funded by donations. Bailouts for poorly run cities? What about a proper increase in Social Security benefits? Finally, why oh why doesn’t the Left see this logic? They have been so brainwashed by so-called educators, and the corrupt media.
What about gender studies in foreign countries? That is the number one thing that needs to be cut from this bill.
why are these “thefts” of American taxpayers not handled differently…so much unnecessary pork all the time in these bills…such a waste of good money gone bad
This is just a small amount of what is going to happen if Biden and democrats get control.
I agree that a single bill proposal should have only one topic…others are constantly being added on at our expense.
George Washington was quoted as saying, we first take care of our own, we then help other countries in need.
This bill could not be passed for much of our history. Limiting the power to tax and spend was the objective of our U.S. Constitution. Article 1 Section 8 the enumerated powers provided the our federal government with limited powers to tax and spend. Their ability to raise taxes prior to the misguided passage of the 16th amendment and the specific items that the federal government could spend those taxes on were very clear to Americans through the late 1800s and into the 1900s. Passage of the 16th amendment without any language to determine how taxes were to be accessed and collected, without stating how the funds were to be spent, and without a balanced budget requirement let the monster (Federal Government)out of the box. Our Supreme Court should have ruled that the spending was unconstitutional but they looked the other way. In this case the entire is unconstitutional. The bill represents exactly what the writers of our constitution were trying to prevent. We are all slaves of our powerful Federal Government. The power to set taxes and laws has been taken away from local government.
THEYSHOULD BE CANCELED IMMEDIATELY. FRIVOULOUS AND UNDEEDED AS WELL AS UNNECESSARY. ALSO, MONEY FOR GENDER STUDIES IN PAKISTAN? ARE THEY SERIOUS?
Line item veto…..NO politician ever wants REAL transparency it hides the paybacks and corruption.
No lobbying for 25 years after leaving office, ALL spending clearly available and transparent for Citizens to see.
A balanced budget with specific detail to revenue in from taxes and out in spending.
Clearly these “SO CALLED” washington establishment,smarter than all could manage these few items???
I guess it depends on your desire and willingness to be honest.
What are the chances with anyone other than President Trump.
Oh my gosh! It would appear that the Socialist Democrats, actually, feel that us Taxpayers are ignorant idiots and would allow such misappropriation of (our) money. Well, think again!
They ought to be ashamed of themselves!
Lets face it. Commenting on this website means nothing. The reality is that we don’t have the courage or the means to change any
of this stuff we are complaining about. Why are we here on this website ? Just to object and BS and make ourselves feel better while we
know we don’t have the determination to change anything. So just live with it. We are observers and complainers, not doers. If we were
doers we would have NOT accepted the Nov 3 contaminated election. We need to wake up and realize how little we matter because we
allow ourselves to be dominated. We are the perfect “victims”.
When DC passes phony pork bills such as the “Covid Act” or the “Improve America Act” ( we are not america, we are the US) they are
never rescinded. These bills pay for the lobbyists and the financial benefactors who support the dims. Do you really think that Gates, Soros, and
Bloomberg fork over billions for nothing ? Hello ? We go over this again and again. This ship has sailed. DC will NEVER : 1. cut the federal budget or 2. stop supporting pork or 3. stop borrowing from the Chi-coms
Many good points in this article. But, why is the government still giving loads of funds to PBS, which is nothing more than one of the MSM that has moved far to the left over the past years?
Just one question (besides using the RICO Act against Congress), does anybody ever think about Line Item Veto? Support the Line Item Veto with a provision that Congress can vote to over ride the veto. Seems kinda reasonable to me. The President can line item veto individual parts of a bill. Then vote for what the President has vetoed. Seems weird, why can’t the President veto one or a bunch of parts of a bill and let Congress over ride the veto. That way the bill becomes law? But the stuff that was on the wish list can be revisited and over ridden if needed.
Really, how stupid is Congress? That’s why I ask for a RICO charge against them, They can’t figure this out and I’m half lit/drunk and realize those idiots makes it hard on themselves, everybody wins when you can enact a law with a line item veto, then argue about the items vetoed and vote to over ride if needed.
? Are these guys really above my pay grade? Too simple, guess they have to justify their job. Really, who cares? They already get a retirement after only one term, which brings me to term limits, that’s for another day.
Unfortunately we can blame no one but ourselves, we the people have allowed this to happen for many many years for the simple reason we are to damn lazy to get off our collective asses and go to the polls and vote, instead we set at home in front of the tv or whatever and let the few that reaps these benefits vote the same tired old folks back into the same office election after election that do nothing, case in point Bernie Sanders elected over and over has done absolutely nothing in 30+ years except become rich off of the people in his state and us, Nancy (the Pig) Pelosi nothing, Mad Maxine Waters nothing and the list goes on. We forgot what Ronald Regan said “We are only one election away from socialism” or words to that effect, well we just had that election and we lost. So for the next 4 years we will run up National debt until our money isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on. If we an still call this once GREAT Nation the USA which I doubt it will be a 3rd world piece of dung, probably camel dung. We have exactly the type of Government we deserve because we did it to ourselves and allowed it to happen. Just one example that comes to mind is the small town I used to live in in NC during a local election 485 people voted to annex approx.15,000 people into the city (population 13,500) we had no say so but we did see our property tax double, less trash trash pick up forced to hook up to city water which tripled but come the next election there was a huge change in the city council and a new Mayor.
When I think of all the people who need help, I am outraged by these frivolous additions such as the Kennedy Center. Arts and humanities activities are important, but not right now. Think about how much more money could be used to help American citizens who need it, if the money alloted to arts and humanities were used to actually help families, small businesses, and food banks. I am a Christian, and I try to be fearless. The only way I can even think about 2021 is knowing that God is still in charge, and it is quite laughable for the Democrats to think they are in control.
One of the biggest mind-blowers of this horrible Bill is that Lindsey Graham actually said publicly that he supports(sponsored?) the Millions of our dollars going to Pakistan’s Cultural training programs! WTF? I can’t beleive he said it with a straight face!
Instead of advocating for an increase in the per capita checks from $600 to $2,000 which go to many who don’t need them, President Trump should have said “Take out everything not COVID related and then I’ll sign.” I am a huge Trump supporter but he went the wrong way on this one.
You all understand that this is only a taste of what the evil, vile Dem(on)s and RINOS have in store for the American people. The goal is to destroy our currency and wealth in order to dominate and crush our independence. The global elites have been waiting for this moment, and with Joe-China potentially at the helm, their success is nearly at hand. Oh, what to do…?
DC Metro, Kennedy Center, etc. used by uber rich–normal citizens pay for them but cannot use them. PBS and NPR are far-left. Just saw a program about author Laura Ingalls Wilder. At every opportunity they ran down capitalism and pushed socialism!!
how bout bailing out my pension that would be a stimulus as it is going to be cut in half next may 2021
These democrat governors need to quit the power struggle and let their States businesses open back up. The strategy of closing the country down was never a good choice and all it did was put thousands of people out of business and cause them to depend upon the government for a bail out. We all know what happens when the government gets involved. Absolutely nothing. America was built on free enterprise, which has made us the most prosperous Nation in the world. We need President Trump for four more years to keep America great.
Well thank God someone (Pres. Trump) has the backbone and common sense to face this issue (which by the way most Americans knew about for years). A clean slate is really needed to make US strong again. Dead-head the wilted growth.
First of all whoever adds this PORK to these bills should have to put their name on it so we can find out who the real crooks are. Most of these additions have already had funding, I guess 4 years wasn’t enough time for the President to drain the swamp every conservative must support Mr. Trump on election improprieties and get this goof ball President elect out of there.
AMAC and all of us need to look at all of the PORK added to these bills and get it out in the open.
Completely Insane this bill is ridiculous ???? why did He sign this ???
Like these aholes are going to stop spending….this is the prize of the lobbyists…that should be stopped….no lobbying and no jobs as lobbyists or their companies for retiring congress people.
Congress needs to pass a line item veto for the president; lobbying needs to be stopped this is where the congressmen get rich and start pushing lobbyists agendas rather than there own and get paid to do it, lobbying must be stopped; voter ID must become law, the 2020 election has proven that, no more cheating; a 5,000-page bill is ridiculous, rushing big bills thru without congressmen having time to read and analyze must be stopped; no more pork. Just a few suggestions.
I don’t know about all you out there, but I, for one, am sick and tired about the way our House and Senate do business. I know they keep adding items to bills to save time and/or hide the change/addition because it wouldn’t pass on its own. If a law or change is not transparent, it shouldn’t be considered at all. Gee think about how much money would be saved by vetoing funds to special interest groups.
One of the excuses politicians use is that it would take too much time to do separate bills; well, isn’t that too bad. Maybe they should work like the rest of us. No Spring, summer, or fall breaks, only two weeks vacation per year and no time for junkets to foreign countries (that’s why we have diplomats). A wise man once told me, “The first day a politician is sworn in is the first day of his re-election campaign.” After voting and watching politicians even before I was old enough to vote, I absolutely agree with that statement. Once in office, politicians know what a gravy train they are on and never want to get off that train.
Now, once in a while you do get someone into a high office that is not a politician. Right now tat person is Donald Trump; he has done nothing to enhance him or his family, everything he has done while the President of our country has been for the country and its people, not for Donald, his wife, or his children. Now, do I like Trump? Oh, hell no! Do I like him as president? Oh, hell yes! Just think of what more he could have accomplished in the last four years if he hadn’t had to waste time and energy defending himself against scurrilous charges that his enemies knew were not warranted.
What was his crime(s) that gained him enemies, even in his own party? #1-he came into the political game aiming for top spot with no political experience and won. #2 – He didn’t need money and couldn’t be bought.
How many even know that Trump lowered the national debt left by Obama from roughly $23+ Billion to $17 Billion and change by last March? Think how much more he would have lowered if it hadn’t been for “COVID 19” and the massive amounts of money needed to fight that and the stimulus money. I am sure Trump’s enemies will say ’til their dying day that Trump is the reason the Debt is now more than what Obama left us. Time to wake up America, the “LEFT” is killing our country with their agenda.
What a colossal waste of taxpayer money. Thank You for exposing this waste, National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities: $335 Million,Again?Expose the names behind this waste
All the pork is disgusting!!!
Our elected representatives are a disgrace, but the “people” keep re-electing them.
Happy New Year?
I’m a pro Trump veteran and this signifies end days for U.S.A.
How much money for Pakistan diversity nonsense?
Ted Cruz had a top ten list of Billions of wasted dollars.
Rand Paul has a separate list of similar stupidity.
Hey, this is almost a tipping point of insane debt. We may not survive this.
Perhaps that’s why Joe was talking about the big reset.
Get used to it folks because this will be standard spendng over the next four years with Sleppy Joe in the White House. Congress has never cut the budget, they only decrease the amount of the increased spending proposed for the next year.
This is all being paid with China money which we are left holding the bag for. This insanity needs to stop. We are beyond broke but Congress ignores this. This article didn’t mention the monies being sent to Pakistan to help women become independent. That is a dream that won’t happen until the Islam religion changes their views of women having independence and no amount of money will change that as it just goes into some bank account for payoffs etc.
How can this ever be reigned in as I know it won’t stop completely.
This pork belly bs (stealing from American tax payers) needs to be just plain illegal. It’s infuriating!
The Line Item veto should be adopted and applied.
Wake-Up!! There are no Republican and DemocRat Parties! There is only the “Unity Party” “RINO’s & Socialists”!! They run a giant SCAM with the Media to keep us “sheep” entertained and in line!! The FreedomWorks.org group and the Trump Group thought they were changing the Republican Party!!! FORGET IT!!! Ryan, McConnell, Romney, etc. are the tip of the “fake loyal opposition iceberg” helping the DemocRats lead all Americans into a SOCIALIST HELL-HOLE!!!! Form a new Political Party – The Freedom Party!!! President Trump’s Movement combined with FreedomWorks.org plus Minorities who refuse to be Republicans have consolidated the base!!!! The American Revolution 2.0!!!!!
Conservatives have serious cause to doubt that the Republican Party is their HOME! The Republican Study Committee is 150 out of 199 Republican Members of the House. Where are the other 49?!! From the traitors Paul Ryan and Romney, etc., many Republicans are Conservatives “IN NAME ONLY” (CINO’s)!!! We will NEVER succeed against the DemocRat/Communists tied down with the Establishment “Republicans”!!! The 2020 Election PROVED some 65 to 80% of Americans are READY!!! Minorities are READY but CANNOT accept being Republicans!!! Merge the Trump Movement & FreedomWorks.org – The American Revolution 2.0!!! Become Counter-Revolutionaries!!! Stand-up for Our Republic!!!! President Trump’s Movement and FreedomWorks.org have consolidated the base!!!! Form a new Political Party – The Freedom Party!!!!! Soar under OUR Banner – The American Eagle!!!!!
Absolutely! One bill at a time!
We all keep talking about all these things that are wrong and ANTI-AMERICA but what can be done about it. As we have just witnessed by the recent election voting is not realy an option since our votes are just canceled out by elegal and elegitimate votes and that is ok apparantly. We also can’t count on the courts to do anything since they simply refuse to get involved. What are our options as law abiding citizens? Americas true leaders need to circle the wagons and come with a plan that we the citizens can help them get the job done to stop the distruction of AMERICA. I think most of us are ready to jump in and due whatever their plan asks to stop this runnaway freight train. Once AMERICA is gone it will never come back.
Nothing will work short of a true revolution. The communists in congress, and YOU STUPID voters put those clowns in there, are going to crash the economy in full. Better have firearms to protect what you have. You stupid idiots who voted for the ( D ) communists are the problem. Adios Amerigo !