On Monday, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) released the latest edition of his annual “Festivus Report,” pitching it this year as being not just a precursor for the incoming Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), but also a useful guide for anyone looking to cut down on federal spending.
The 2024 report highlights more than $1 trillion of “government waste,” including a Florida man stealing $8 million in COVID-19 relief funds and using the money to buy an island and more, “ice-skating drag queens,” a $12 million Las Vegas pickleball complex, $4,840,082 on Ukrainian influencers, $32,596.12 for breakdancing, and the U.S. Navy being “set to waste almost $90 billion on ineffective Navy vessels.”
The report lists $288,563 spent to “ensure” bird-watching groups have safe spaces aka “Affinity Groups.” The State Department also allocated $330,000 to fund censorship of…
