A report by the Congressional Budget Office reveals that unauthorized programs received $516 billion in funding for fiscal year 2024.
WASHINGTON—As Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy embark on their Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) project, Rep. Greg Lopez (R-Colo.) is urging them to focus on cutting government spending on “zombie programs.” Zombie programs are federal initiatives that were once authorized by Congress but have since lost authorization, rendering them unable to operate.
According to an investigation by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Congress allocated $516 billion to such unauthorized programs in fiscal year 2024. Lopez has written to Musk and Ramaswamy, urging them to expose these programs and recommend terminating their funding.
Lopez’s letter points out various allegedly unauthorized programs that received funding from Congress in recent years, including the Clean School Bus Program, the Zero Net Energy Commercial Buildings Initiative, and grant programs from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Department of Health and Human Services.
Despite their lack of authorization, some of these programs are still operational. For example, the Clean School Bus Program is currently accepting grant applications for the 2025 fiscal year.
Ramaswamy previously addressed the issue of funding unauthorized programs in November, emphasizing the potential savings of defunding such programs.
DOGE, not an official government agency in the upcoming Trump administration, consists of Musk and Ramaswamy, who will provide recommendations for improving government efficiency. However, only Congress has the authority to change the allocation of funds to agencies.
While Congress is required to fund programs through authorized legislation, the distinction between authorized and unauthorized spending is not explicitly outlined in the Constitution. Lopez stresses the need for regular review and reauthorization of programs receiving taxpayer dollars to eliminate zombie programs.
Lopez, a member of the House Budget Committee, entered Congress in July and will be succeeded by Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) in the 119th Congress. DOGE has not yet responded to a request for comment. Please rewrite this sentence for me.
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