The most costly, corrupt, and inequitable practice in the history of Congress has once again been exposed in the Congressional Pig Book. The 32nd edition of “the book Washington doesn’t want you to read” tracks the rise of earmarks to near-record levels of spending in the third year since members of Congress restored the practice in fiscal 2022.

Citizens Against Government Waste released the first Congressional Pig Book in 1991, based on the seven-point criteria developed in conjunction with the bipartisan Congressional Porkbusters Coalition.  The 2024 version exposes 8,222 earmarks, an increase of 11.2% from the 7,396 in fiscal 2023, at a cost of $22.7 billion, 13% less than the $26.1 billion in earmarks in fiscal 2023.