The alarming resurgence of earmarks in Congress highlights a systemic problem that has plagued our legislative process for decades, sidestepping transparency and fiscal responsibility in favor of catering to powerful interests. The latest edition of the Congressional Pig Book, an exhaustive report by Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW), lays bare the extent of this issue.
Since the practice of earmarks was reinstated in 2022, there has been a substantial increase in these questionable funding allocations. The 2024 Congressional Pig Book reveals a startling 8,222 earmarks, an 11.2% increase from the previous fiscal year. Although the total cost, at $22.7 billion, is slightly lower than last year’s $26.1 billion, it still represents a significant misuse of taxpayer dollars.
Earmarks, by design, benefit a select few at the expense of the many. This year’s Pig Book shows that the 90 members of the House and Senate appropriations committees, roughly 17% of Congress, secured 42.2% of all earmarks and 35.2% of the allocated funds. Such consolidation of power is a testament to the corruption inherent in the system, underscoring the disproportionate influence wielded by certain legislators.
One particularly egregious example is House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who leveraged earmarks as “legalized bribery” to secure votes to prevent a government shutdown. His negotiation led to inflated earmarks, particularly evident in the transportation, housing, and urban development appropriations bill, where nearly all Democratic members received additional funds. According to a CNN analysis, many of these earmarks exceeded the amounts originally proposed, further highlighting the unethical trading of favors.
Prominent members of the Senate Appropriations Committee are among the top beneficiaries. Senator Susan Collins claimed the most earmarks for fiscal 2024, securing 231 such allocations amounting to $575,580,000, significantly more than her nearest competitors. Notably, the top five beneficiaries, who make up less than 1% of Congress, received over 10% of the total earmarked funds.
This disparity is not just limited to individuals but extends to states with smaller populations, especially those with representatives on key committees. Alaska, with $645.20 per resident, topped the list of earmark benefits per capita, followed by Maine, Hawaii, the Northern Mariana Islands, and West Virginia. Such skewed distribution benefits a minority at the cost of broader fiscal health.
Furthermore, earmarks often finance projects that could be funded through established federal programs, thus bypassing rigorous evaluation processes. Notable earmarks include $282,353,000 for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, despite existing military budgets, and $17,500,000 for the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, alongside less defensible allocations like $4,000,000 for Alaska’s King Crab Enhancement Project and $190,000 for a shark repellent study.
CAGW’s Pig Book also humorously spotlights the most absurd earmarks with awards. For example, the “You Cannot Be Serious Award” went to Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand for allocating $1.75 million to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, an institution with substantial net assets, underscoring the misuse of taxpayer money.
Amidst this discouraging landscape, efforts to legislate bans on earmarks persist. Taxpayers’ awareness and vocal opposition are crucial in pushing for these reforms. As more citizens scrutinize the details within the Congressional Pig Book, the mounting outrage could galvanize meaningful change. The hallmark of a truly representative government rests not in the hands of a select few but in the collective stewardship of public funds for the common good.
