'Emergency' Has Become Washington's Favorite Loophole. It's Cost Taxpayers $15 Trillion.
Over the last decade, roughly one in every 10 dollars of budget authority has worn an emergency tag.
Government Spending
Keep the Federal Government Closed
Americans need to go cold turkey from Uncle Sugar.
Don't Panic Over Federal Cuts for Homeless Programs
The federal cuts amount to little more than a rounding error in most state or big city budgets.
America's $30 Trillion Publicly Held Debt Is 42 Times Larger Than It Was in 1980
Democrats defend every entitlement and dream up new benefits. Republicans demand more defense spending and still more tax cuts.
SNAP Stops
Plus: Predictions for Mamdani's mayorship, ICE leadership changes, and more...
The Government Shutdown Isn't Stopping Trump From Amassing 'Emergency' Powers
As of mid-2025, there were roughly 50 simultaneous national emergencies in force.
ICE Spent Over $71 Million on Guns, Armor, and Chemical Munitions in 2025 So Far
The total is over 600 percent more than what the agency spent from January to October 2024.
Does Argentina's Bailout Prove Libertarians Wrong?
Plus: the “No Kings” protests, Trump pays troop salaries during government shutdown, and the continued bombing of drug boats in Venezuela
The Federal Workforce Will Be a Little Smaller After the Government Shutdown Ends
We’ll take less government however we can get it.
Glenn Jacobs on Donald Trump, the Administrative State, and Ron Paul's Legacy
"It's the administrative state and the bureaucrats who are actually populating the rules. They're the ones running most of the government," Tennessee wrestler-turned-mayor Glenn Jacobs tells Reason.
The Trump Administration Begins 'Substantial' Layoffs of Federal Workers
Civil servants are normally temporarily furloughed during shutdowns. The White House insists the current funding lapse empowers them to permanently fire workers.
After All Those DOGE Cuts, Federal Spending Still Increased by $300 Billion
For the fiscal year that ended on September 30, the federal government spent more than $7 trillion and ran a $1.8 trillion deficit.
What the Democrats Are Doing Right Now Won't Lower Health Care Costs—but Here's What Actually Would
Four ideas that are better than extending Obamacare subsidies and a government shutdown.
Rep. Chip Roy on Spending, Immigration, and the American Dream
"I think members of Congress believe that they get more popularity in votes by spending money. I actually disagree with that," the Texas Republican tells Reason.
Alligator Alcatraz Was Built on Secrecy, Expansive Emergency Powers, and an Unprecedented State Power Grab
Shadowy deals and unilateral powers created Florida's notorious immigration detention camp.
Trump To Cancel Biden-Era Green Energy Grants, but Only for Blue States
The president would be justified in wanting to rescind all state grants. Instead, he's apparently letting states that voted for him keep the cash.
The Government Shutdown Is a Distraction—From Our $37 Trillion Debt
This time, Democrats turned the most basic government housekeeping into hostage drama.
Government Shutdowns Are an Example of Congress Doing Its Job
Refusing to fund the government is the primary way minority party lawmakers can check the excesses of the executive branch and the majority party.
Shutdown Livestream: This Won't Fix Trillion-Dollar Deficits
Reason's Peter Suderman and Eric Boehm discuss the government shutdown live at 3 p.m. Eastern time today.
Could This Be the Best Government Shutdown Ever?
Take your opportunities for smaller government where you find them.
Government Set To Shut Down Tomorrow
Plus: Eric Adams drop out, Assata Shakur gets fawned over, James Comey gets roasted, and more...
Mamdani's Fare-Free Buses Wouldn't Be NYC's First Wasteful Public Transit Boondoggle
A previous pilot program found free access slowed down buses in New York City, which already has the slowest buses in the nation.
The U.N. Pullout
Plus: Eric Adams pursues trans bathroom policy change, SCOTUS to rule on Lisa Cook firing, and more...
Milei Raises Government Spending While Pledging Zero Deficit
With midterms ahead, Milei promises more funding for pensions, health, and education.
Department of Veterans Affairs
In 16 Years, the V.A. Turned This $450 Million Hospital Project Into a $1.6 Billion Boondoggle
What began as a simple hospital project has become yet another example of bureaucratic failure at the Department of Veterans Affairs
Florida Applies for Federal Reimbursement for 'Alligator Alcatraz' Costs Despite Court Warning
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis promised that the federal government would reimburse the state for the costs of "Alligator Alcatraz," but doing so would make the detention facility subject to environmental reviews Florida ignored.
Here's What Would Happen If We Seized All the Wealth From America's 800 Billionaires
Don't comfort yourself with wishful thinking that millionaires and billionaires could take the entire burden of the deficit off our hands.
Trump Once Called Biden's $1.2 Trillion Infrastructure Bill 'Terrible.' Now He's Pretending He Signed It.
He was right the first time.
Trump's $4.9 Billion 'Pocket Rescission' Violates Federal Law and Usurps Congressional Authority
Congress holds the power of the purse in our system of government, and further eroding congressional responsibility for spending decisions will not end well.
The Real Threat to Fed Independence Isn't Trump. It's Congress' Debt Addiction.
The president's clear attempt to interfere in the Federal Reserve is not a one-off crisis.
Chip Roy on Why He Backed Trump's Spending Bill
Texas Rep. Chip Roy joins Nick Gillespie to talk about runaway spending, the uphill battle for health care reform, and where immigration fits into the liberty vs. sovereignty debate.
Keep Government Funding—and Political Meddling—Far Away From Olympic Athletes
Plus: Congress might blow up the pro sports business model, and Las Vegas is struggling
Tariff Rebate Checks Are a Bad, Inflationary Idea
If Sen. Josh Hawley and the Trump administration want to spare Americans the pain from tariffs, there is a far simpler solution.
Congress Spent At Least $27,500 on Poster Displays in 2 Months. Here Are 4 Ridiculous Examples and 1 Good One.
It's a drop in the bucket compared to the national debt, but any wasteful government spending should be eliminated.
Audit Finds $400 Million in Questionable Lease Spending After Maryland's Governor Bragged About Savings
A costly lease for the Maryland Department of Health, along with other findings in a state audit, raises questions about the millions in savings touted by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore.
The National Debt Is Becoming Your Local Problem
Federal overspending is squeezing states and cities, forcing them to raise taxes, slash services, or pile on more debt.
Media Outlets Shouldn't Get Public Funds, No Matter Their Political Bias
It shouldn't matter whether NPR leans right or left. Cutting its federal funding was the right move.
The IRS Is Now 25 Percent Smaller (and, Hopefully, Less Dangerous)
We still need real tax reform and much lower federal spending.
We're Lying to Ourselves About Taxes, Spending, and the Debt
It's time to ask what level of spending Americans truly want with the money we actually have.
If Trump Wants American Businesses To Thrive, He Should Get Rid of Government Subsidies
Federal subsidies undermine American companies, breed dependency, and stifle competition.
Did USAID Really Save 90 Million Lives? Not Unless It Raised the Dead
A Lancet study’s inflated numbers are being used to push a partisan narrative, not inform public policy.
Trump Doesn't Need To Fire Jerome Powell. He Needs To End America's Spending Addiction.
The executive branch wants to use the Federal Reserve as a tool to accommodate the government's frenzy of reckless borrowing.
A Social Security Bailout Would Cost Younger Workers $157,000 in Higher Taxes
To keep Social Security solvent without cutting benefits would require a massive hike in payroll taxes, which would fall entirely on working Americans.
'Alligator Alcatraz' Contracts Disappeared From a Florida State Database
A state official says the contracts contained "proprietary information," so they were scrubbed and replaced with bare-bones summaries.
What Should Libertarians Make of the Epstein Files?
Plus: Tulsi Gabbard accuses Obama of treason, Congress slashes NPR funding, and a listener asks if we actually like each other.
Should the U.S. Have a Public Health Insurance Plan?
Yale’s Jacob Hacker and Sesame’s David Goldhill debate a government-run health insurance plan.
The CEO of NPR Made the Best Case for Defunding It
The notion that NPR can somehow become unbiased is about as believable as the IRS sending you a fruit basket to commend you for filing your taxes.
