Posted on 03/28/2024 5:08:44 AM PDT by Red Badger
The programs in fiscal year 2023 that went unreported to the government watchdog, which has tracked trillions of payments made in error in 2003, fell under the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
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Anew Government Accountability Office (GAO) report reveals that federal agencies have reported about $2.7 trillion in "total improper payments" since the fiscal year 2003 and $236 billion in fiscal year 2023 alone but that “government-wide estimate potentially does not represent the full extent of improper payments.”
The reason the fiscal year 2023 total doesn't tell the full story of improper payments government-wide is because some agencies did not report the totals from select federal programs "susceptible to significant improper payments," the GAO explained in their report, released publicly on Tuesday.
These programs that went unreported to the government watchdog include the Department of Health and Human Services' Temporary Assistance for Needy Families as well as the Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Public and Indian Housing's Tenant Based Rental Assistance program and the Office of Multifamily Housing's Project-Based Rental Assistance program.
While the $236 billion total is about $11 billion less than fiscal year 2022's total, the GAO noted that the total would be higher with those additional programs included.
Among the improper payment totals that federal agencies reported to GAO for fiscal year 2023, about $175 billion, more than 74% were characterized as "overpayments," the watchdog found. The GAO defines improper payments as "those that should not have been made or were made in the incorrect amount."
GAO reported that improper payments "represent a material deficiency or weakness in internal controls" across the federal government. "Specifically, GAO has noted that the federal government is unable to determine the full extent of its improper payments or to reasonably assure that appropriate actions are taken to reduce them," read the watchdog's latest report.
House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., and House Committee on the Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, co-leaders of the Improper Payments Working Group, called for the U.S. government to do more to reduce the amount of improper payments each year.
Arrington noted that the $236 billion figure of "fraudulent and wasteful payments" represents more than what the U.S. government spent on Homeland Security, the Department of Education, and NASA combined.
"In fact, since 2003, nearly $3 trillion in taxpayer dollars have been squandered on improper payments, a figure that is as stunning as it is unacceptable. In order to restore fiscal responsibility to Washington we must root out the gross mismanagement of Americans’ hard-earned tax dollars, rein in spending, and reverse the curse of a debt crisis that looms large over our children’s future,” said Arrington in a statement.
Comer also described the findings in the latest GAO report as "unacceptable," adding that it's a systematic problem across the government.
“As our national debt continues to balloon, it’s imperative we reduce government spending and waste. It’s unacceptable our federal government made $236 billion in improper payments during the last fiscal year. This systemic mismanagement and waste of taxpayer dollars must be addressed. Our Improper Payments Working Group will continue to identify ways to address improper payments and ensure the federal government better stewards Americans’ hard-earned money,” Comer said in a statement.
Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, has been outspoken about the recurring problem of improper payments. She said the government has made about $764 billion in improper payments since fiscal year 2021.
"The government issued over $236 billion of improper payments in FY23, more than the entire annual budget of the US Army," Hinson wrote in an X post with a clip of her speaking about the issue. "I’m working to ensure the Administration takes steps to prevent improper payments & stops letting taxpayer dollars fly out the door."
Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., former chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, said on Wednesday that the "staggering" amount of improper payment must be addressed.
"Any amount of waste from improper payments is unacceptable - but this report highlights just how staggering a problem the federal government faces," Perry wrote on the social media platform X. "Just this year, nearly a QUARTER OF A TRILLION of your tax dollars were wasted on improper payments. We can and must do better to ensure that the executive branch is a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars."
“Overpayments”
Go big or go to prison!...............
“In fact, since 2003, nearly $3 trillion in taxpayer dollars have been squandered on improper payments, a figure that is as stunning as it is unacceptable. In order to restore fiscal responsibility to Washington we must root out the gross mismanagement of Americans’ hard-earned tax dollars, rein in spending, and reverse the curse of a debt crisis that looms large over our children’s future,” said Arrington in a statement.
What’s needed is to get FedGov back within the constraints of the US Constitution, but we don’t have anyone at the national level with the stones and fortitude to handle the extreme pushback that will come from the entrenched bureaucracy and the Swamp Critters in DC...except for maybe DJT. But, he will need a lot of help. Help that stood on the sidelines in his first administration.
These a$$clowns need to get in the game, or there will be no America left.
A lot of people regard all the largesse funneled to Ukraine as “improper”.
HHS and HUD have been spreading the money around since forever. It’s well-known in the hood. Good old Marion Barry hisself received a large amount for his Pride Incorporated scam.
Just think, if we had not shipped all that money and arms to Zelenskyy the war would have been over two years ago....................
Is “improper payments “ a euphemism for graft and embezzlement?
All HHS and HUD and FEMA are is money laundering outfits........................
Let him just go to prison. He’s committed multiple high crimes and misdemeanors, including bribery, perjury and treason.
Perzackley!..................
Exactly. The crowd at HUD is something. The average IQ in that place is pitifully low. Morons is what they would be called if it weren’t for PC.
Huh, whoda thunk it.
Yellen keeps “finding” money to send them.
King Pedo keeps handing out money without congressional approval.
I was thinking imbecile, but I can’t remember which is lowest, idiot, moron, or imbecile.
It’s too bad those old terms have fallen out of favor, what with AA and stuff.
Here’s an idea...
Flat tax, shutdown the IRS, everyone working there is now an auditor, track every dime spent and account for every penny!!
2.7 trillion and we can’t even get our friends here to scrape up a paltry $7500 to keep this site running for Jim.
The Federal government is a Criminal Enterprise and is operated as such.
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