America by the Numbers

Departments

50 billion — dollar amount of “government waste” identified so far by Elon Musk’s D.O.G.E.8 billion — pounds of waste produced per year by American D-O-G dogs200,000 — number of Caribbean pink flamingoes in the wild20 million — number of pink plastic flamingoes sold since 1957, when sculptor Don Featherstone created them for Union Products, a lawn and garden décor company2.1 billion — dollar amount of USAID money that went directly to Hamas-controlled areas of Gaza5 million — dollar amount of loan money available to businesses impacted by the February, 2023 train derailment/chemical spills in East Palestine, Ohio1 trillion over 5 years — dollar amount of wealth being sheltered by Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts and related vehicles, which are typically used by wealthy families to avoid paying inheritance taxes (“GRATS for BRATS”)1.16 million — minimum salary for an NBA basketball player, in dollars1.15 million — pounds of blubber legally harvested per year from bowhead whales by …

Departments

Biggest Money-Wasting Scams Uncovered by DOGE in all 50 States

By The Editors

Alabama — “Roll, Tide” gift bags, luggage tags, and gold-plated tiny helmets distributed to state officeholdersAlaska — Federally-subsidized ice sculptures of whalesArizona — Cashing social security checks for thousands of 140-year old retireesArkansas — Department of Bootlegging Studies at the University of Arkansas, Little RockCalifornia — “California Love” rap video production program featuring state landmarks being set on fireColorado — Five-year après-ski study of effects of high altitudes on potency of cocoa leaf by-productsConnecticut — In situ performances of Rick Moody’s The Ice StormDelaware — State-wide contest to find original uses for old credit cards in order to avoid negative impacts on the environmentFlorida — Miss Grapefruit ContestGeorgia — Georgia Peaches ContestHawaii — Wave Studies Department at non-existent “University of Maui”Idaho — National Potato Reserve to replace Fort KnoxIllinois — Ongoing mass psychology experiment to elect a series of increasingly …

America by the Numbers

Agricultural Digest

Biggest Money-Wasting Scams Uncovered by DOGE in all 50 States