Sen. Rand Paul’s Annual ‘Festivus’ Report: $1,639,135,969,608 of Government Waste
Including teaching ferrets to binge drink alcohol, making monkeys play a ‘Price Is Right’-inspired video game, and cartoon series that teaches kids in Pakistan how to fight climate change
By Katy Grimes, December 27, 2025 7:58 am
U.S. Sen. Rand Paul just released his annual “Festivus Report” of wasteful government spending. The 2025 listing does not disappoint – until you remember that all of us are paying for this abuse of taxpayers’ funds by electing the congressional wastrels.
Last year, Sen. Paul highlighted a whopping $1,008,313,329,626.12 of government waste. This year it’s even higher – $1,639,135,969,608 of Government Waste.
“Last Festivus, we clamored over the national debt reaching over an astronomical $36 trillion. Shockingly, in one short year, the career politicians and bureaucrats in Washington have managed to reach nearly $40 trillion in debt, without so much as a second thought. When asked who’s to blame for our crushing level of debt, the answer is ‘Everyone.’”
“This year, Congress voted to raise the debt ceiling by $5 trillion, the most we ever have. Congress keeps shoveling money toward pet projects and special interests while hardworking Americans pay the price through inflation and crushing interest rates – even after President Trump took action to end most foreign aid
programs.”
Festivus is a holiday celebrated on December 23rd, created on the Jerry Seinfeld Show by Frank Costanza, George Costanza’s father, as an alternative to Christmas. According to Seinfeld Fandom, “He came upon the idea after pummeling a man in the face in a toy-store dispute over a doll (for George). In his own words, ‘As I rained blows upon him, I realized, ‘There had to be another way!’”
Senator Paul reveals that they discovered cash going toward experiments teaching ferrets to binge drink alcohol and dosing dogs with cocaine (again); taxpayer dollars spent on safe spaces at a private university; $2.1 million spent for researchers to collect saliva samples and survey partiers at EDM clubs and festivals in New York City about their drug use; $14,643,280 to make monkeys play a “Price Is Right”-inspired video game, and so much more.”
Here are a few of my favorites on Sen. Paul’s long 2025 Festivus list:
- Cartoon Climate Crusaders in Pakistan: The U.S. Department of State gave $244,252 to Stand for Peace in Islamabad to produce a television cartoon series that teaches kids in Pakistan how to fight climate change.
- Weight Loss by Wi-Fi: HHS is spending $1.9 million on a “hybrid mobile phone family intervention” designed to reduce childhood obesity among Latino families in Los Angeles County.
- More COVID Panic Theatre: HHS spent over $40 million on influencers to promote getting vaccinated against COVID-19 for racial and ethnic minority groups.
- Make Vegetables More Inclusive: USDA spent $141,517 to create a ‘resilient and equitable’ local food network that prioritizes culturally relevant food for low-income LGBT people of color from the Bronx and Brooklyn.
- Woke U: HHS gave $3.3 million to Northwestern University so they can hire 15 people, erect “scientific neighborhoods,” install “safe space ambassadors,” and form endless committees to “dismantle systemic racism.”
- Bears, Drag Queens, and Bureaucracy: HHS spent $936,000 on marketing campaigns, advisory boards, and engagement strategies targeting niche subcultures in Los Angeles—specifically the “bear/cub,” “drag queen,” and “queer punk rock” scenes—about STD testing and treatment capacity.
- Fauci’s Beagle Labs Live On: NIH extended funding for Dr. Fauci’s beagle experiments, costing taxpayers $13.8 million.
- Marine Mammal Money Pit: The Department of Defense (DOD) is spending an estimated $77 million a year on an unnecessary dolphin training program that Congress won’t let end.
- COVID Cash Grab: Schools received nearly $200 billion in COVID relief funds, which was wasted on things like rooms at Caesars Palace, renting out MLB stadiums, and ice cream trucks.
- Migrant Money Grab: HHS blew through $22.6 billion on migrant programs that paid for things like furniture, car repairs and home down payments, as well as welfare for illegal immigrants.
- Gender Affirming Care and LGBTQ Children’s Hospital: $2 Million to a San Diego hospital running a pediatric gender-affirming care center that facilitates gender transition surgeries for kids.
And from the “you can’t make this @!*% up file,” Doctors Diagnose Gas Stoves and Trump as Public Threats: $700,000 to a Boston chapter of an organization that supports protest rallies against President Trump, hates gas stoves, and more.
I’d say “enjoy this report” except it’s not meant to be enjoyed.
As Sen. Paul says, “This year, I’m spotlighting a jaw-dropping amount of government waste — the kind that makes you wonder if anyone in Washington has ever heard the word “priorities.” A grand total of $1,639,135,969,608, which includes $1.22 trillion in interest payments on the debt.
No matter how much taxpayer money Washington burns through, politicians can’t help but demand more.”
Oh, Merry Christmas and Happy Festivus.
A California native and Navy mom, Katy lives in Sacramento, CA.
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why is Rand Paul not introducing a bill to end the filibuster and publicly campaigning for it so we can eliminate ALL of these programs? when he asks, “whose fault is this? everyone’s”, he needs to correct himself and say “mine!” Rand Paul is all talk and no action!
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/reporters-notebook-paul-stands-firm-against-spending-bill-shutdown-clock-ticks.amp
As you and Sen. Paul point out there are so many unnecessary programs that simply need to be shut down. People who suggest that the federal government should implement a 15 to 20% cut back across the board don’t mention these wasteful and meaningless programs and I’m sure there are even more that should be on the chopping block. If we looked at each and every program I’m certain that there are more programs that may provide a service but I’ll guarantee that we can live without them. As we are all heading towards 40 TRILLION DOLLARS IN DEBT, them smart thing to do is shut down programs as opposed to cutting them back. Democrats will scream at the unemployment picture but those jobs are government jobs which never should have been burdened by the taxpayer in the first place. Trust me, these people will find other jobs, just ask Joe Biden. When he eliminated the Keystone Pipeline and killed tens of thousands of good paying jobs he said those workers would find employment elsewhere.
OMG. Yea, this needs to be Stopped ASAP. There’s absolutely NO Excuse to keep this going.
Unfortunately Senator Rand Paul lacks the courage of his father Ron Paul.
The consequences of the horrific government waste has already matastacised as a 70% decrease in Americans wealth and net worth merely during the past year and the first year of Trump’s second presidency.
$40 trillion down a fecal hole with nothing to show to it but a bankrupt country consumed by chaos.
Rather than protect the intrinsic wealth of legacy Americans Donald Trump in concert with the Republicans and Democrats opted to consciously proritized and approve at our expense welfare funding.
The precipitous decline in the US dollar’s value referenced against the world’s instrument of currency valuation gold should have been an issue raised by Trump however it was not!
Donald Trump merely one of the conspirators destroying those of us who toil for survival.
This is not political commentary rather a factual perspective based on math and the resulting decay of US currency valuation.
Eyeinthesky is once again full of BS trying to claim that 70% decrease in Americans wealth and net worth merely during the past year. As of December 2025, the US dollar has weakened by around 9% over the past 12 months, according to the DXY exchange rate, which measures the dollar against a basket of major currencies. The dollar remains more than 40% above its 2011 level against a basket of currencies, indicating long-term strength despite short-term fluctuations.
Eyeinthesky is whining that the dollar is down in relation to the price of gold. Eyeinthesky needs to know that the U.S. does NOT operate on a gold standard and there are NO other countries in the world whose currencies are directly tied to the price of gold. Gold is priced in U.S. dollars globally ensuring consistency across international markets. The price of gold is subject to continuous fluctuation based on market dynamics, supply and demand, and geopolitical factors. There is an inverse relationship between the U.S. dollar and gold prices, with a weaker dollar typically boosting gold prices due to increased demand from international buyers and central banks.
In a previous post, Eyeinthesky claimed to work for a company in Orange County that relies extensively on parts and materials purchased from off shore sources. Eyeinthesky complained that that their most of their vendors bill the company against gold’s valuation instead of the U.S dollar. Eyeinthesky also complained that operating expenses of the past year increased 17% this past year and are forecast to increase 20% during calendar 2026.
First of all, why does Eyeinthesky’s company extensively relying on parts and materials purchased from off shore sources instead of purchasing parts and materials that are produced domestically thus avoiding currency fluctuations and tariffs?
Secondly, Orange County is a very expensive place to run a business mostly because of the burdensome regulations and high taxes/fees that have been imposed by Newsom and Democrats who’ve controlled the state for years. If Eyeinthesky’s company wants to reduce operating expenses, then why not relocate it to a more business friendly state or maybe another country that has lower taxes and fewer regulations?
Eyeinthesky is a dimwit from Orange County who would rather whine and complain while blaming President Trump.
Eyeinthesky is once again full of BS trying to claim that 70% decrease in Americans wealth and net worth merely during the past year. As of December 2025, the US dollar has weakened by around 9% over the past 12 months, according to the DXY exchange rate, which measures the dollar against a basket of major currencies. The dollar remains more than 40% above its 2011 level against a basket of currencies, indicating long-term strength despite short-term fluctuations.
Eyeinthesky is whining that the dollar is down in relation to the price of gold. Eyeinthesky needs to know that the U.S. does NOT operate on a gold standard and there are NO other countries in the world whose currencies are directly tied to the price of gold. Gold is priced in U.S. dollars globally ensuring consistency across international markets. The price of gold is subject to continuous fluctuation based on market dynamics, supply and demand, and geopolitical factors. There is an inverse relationship between the U.S. dollar and gold prices, with a weaker dollar typically boosting gold prices due to increased demand from international buyers and central banks.
In a previous post, Eyeinthesky claimed to work for a company in Orange County that relies extensively on parts and materials purchased from off shore sources. Eyeinthesky complained that that their most of their vendors bill the company against gold’s valuation instead of the U.S dollar. Eyeinthesky also complained that operating expenses of the past year increased 17% this past year and are forecast to increase 20% during calendar 2026.
First of all, why does Eyeinthesky’s company extensively relying on parts and materials purchased from off shore sources instead of purchasing parts and materials that are produced domestically thus avoiding currency fluctuations and tariffs?
Secondly, Orange County is a very expensive place to run a business mostly because of the burdensome regulations and high taxes/fees that have been imposed by Newsom and Democrats who’ve controlled the state for years. If Eyeinthesky’s company wants to reduce operating expenses, then why not relocate it to a more business friendly state or maybe another country that has lower taxes and fewer regulations?
Eyeinthesky is a dimwit from Orange County who would rather whine and complain while blaming President Trump.