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A Texas school district actually bought a water slide and other luxuries with federal funds, then claimed these enhanced reading instruction.
In 2008, a Congressional junket to the Galapagos Islands cost the taxpayers $31,100, adjusted for inflation to 2024.
On Sept. 10, 2001, then SecDef Donald Rumsfeld promised to account for $2.3 trillion in Pentagon spending. The accounting hasn't happened.
The Search for Extra-terrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Institute got $9.4 million to look for aliens no one has ever found.
In 1983 the Federal Aviation Administration bailed out several bankrupt airlines by letting them default on $47 million in loans.
In 1986 a contractor fleeced the Agriculture Department of $3 million (2023 dollars) in funds intended for needy children's lunches.
In 1983, the U.S. Army spent $61,650 printing color pamphlets describing the rules of the boys' game King of the Hill.
The General Services Administration (GSA) has tried to deal with unnecessary federal buildings since 1976. (It still faces that problem.)
In 1982, the U.S. Commerce Department spent $440,000 holding training sessions in three-star hotels. Another Golden Fleece.
In 1982, a $23,000 light show malfunctioned and created a confusing experience for the small crowd of attendees.
