Maybe you keep a checkbook or update a spreadsheet to track your spending — well, so does the government. From agency spending to grants, this is laid out on a website called USAspending.gov. This September marks the 20-year anniversary of the bipartisan legislation, spearheaded by the late Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) and then-Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL), that created this key oversight platform. 

We work hard for our paychecks, and we want our government to work just as hard to put our tax dollars to good use. USAspending was created to provide an easy-to-use window into the federal government’s spending, allowing the government and the public to assess how funds were spent and identify systemic waste or fraud. While USAspending was a marked improvement, it’s still not providing a full picture of exactly how and where taxpayer dollars are being used, nor is it updated in near real time like your personal account.