Federal employees ask taxpayers to buy them personal items

Government agencies get away with spending their appropriations on a variety of items the average person would deem questionable, but some expenses have deviated so far from spending rules that Congress’ watchdog has forbidden them.

From party refreshments to umbrellas for government employees who have to go out in the rain, the Government Accountability Office has decided many purchases over the years have been against regulations that prohibit taxpayer dollars from being spent on anything that isn’t a “necessary expense.”