Facing the loss of federal “use-it-or-lose-it” funding, the Department of Defense spent millions of dollars on expensive seafood.
According to a new report from government watchdog OpenTheBooks, the Defense Department spent $2.3 million on crab and $2.3 million on lobster tail to use up the last of its budget for the 2018 fiscal year before Oct. 1.
The report also analyzed other spending by the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Executive Office of the President.
It found that other departments spend $300,000 on steak and nearly $25,000 on candy bars. Other seemingly nonessential spending includes a fidget spinner and a Wexford leather club chair that cost $9,241.
Several lawmakers have voiced concern over excessive spending that results from the “use-it-or-lose-it” policy.
“Although not a new phenomenon, use it or lose it spending can lead to waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars,” said an August letter from Sens. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., Rand Paul, R-Ky., Gary Peters, D-Mich., and then-Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., who sat on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. “The Committee has previously raised concerns about the potential for waste and abuse the practice presents.”
