Rand Paul 'Festivus Report' Reminds Us That Government Spending Is Dumber Than Ever

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It's that time of year again: Sen. Rand Paul's 2024 'Festivus Report' is out.

Every December 23rd, Sen. Paul releases an extensive list of all the ways Washington wastes our money.

In some of the dumbest ways imaginable. Spending on things that sound stupid, you think it might be made up.

Well, this year is no different. Paul's list does not disappoint.

Here is just part of it:

Ghost Towns on the Government's Dime: The federal government spent $10 billion on maintaining, leasing, and furnishing almost entirely empty buildings

A Pandemic Plunder: A Florida man stole $8 million in COVID-19 Relief funds to buy an island and more

Your Tax Dollars at Play: The Department of the Interior (DOI) spent $12 Million on a Las Vegas Pickleball Complex

Snack Attack: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded a $2 million grant to study kids looking at Facebook ads about food

Taxpayers Dollars Down the Drain in Nevis: The Department of State (DOS) spent $108,272 on a non-functioning hotel

Direct File Fail: Congress spent $15 million to turn the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) into an unconstitutional force to prepare, file, and audit your hard-earned money

Oh Rats! HHS Spends Nearly Half a Million on a Depressing Study of Lonely, Starved Rats: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) spent $419,470 to determine if lonely rats seek cocaine more than happy rats

Hold on to Your Steering Wheels: The Department of Energy (DOE) spent $15.5 billion to push Americans toward electric vehicles they don't want

The Influencer Effect Hits Foreign Policy: The Department of State (DOS) squandered $4,840,082 on influencers

Cirque du Taxpayer: The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) spent $365,000 to promote circuses in city parks

Girls Just Wanna Have Funds: The Department of State (DOS) spent $3 Million for ‘Girl-Centered Climate Action’ in Brazil

Had enough yet?

You can see the entire list here.

One big difference between this year's Festivus Report and past ones - Rand Paul says he is now working "weekly" with the Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.

They are reportedly using Paul's Festivus Report to pinpoint wasteful spending.

And hopefully eliminate it.

Maybe the Festivus Report won't be as long - and as stupid - by this time next year?

Fingers crossed.