Disaster Relief for Small Businesses Is a Disaster All Its Own
The Small Business Administration will always fail the people it's meant to help.
Federal government
'Defund the Police' Should Include Federal Cops Too
Federal spending on policing has quadrupled since the 1980s, while state and local spending has increased by about one-third.
Trump Is Gutting the Inspector General System, and Most Republicans Don't Care
Congress created inspectors general to be watchdogs, but it's too weak-willed to protect those watchdogs from retaliation.
When Government Programs Do More Harm Than Good
Shame on the U.S. government for making unemployment pay better than work.
A Pandemic Is Not a Chance To Flog Your Bad National Service Proposals
The federal government has done a terrible job managing the coronavirus. It doesn't deserve our labor.
Senate Approves Fourth Round of Coronavirus Spending: $484 Billion for Small Businesses, Testing, Hospitals
The deal primarily sets aside $320 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses.
Budget Deficit Now Expected To Near $4 Trillion This Year
And more coronavirus stimulus spending could send that number soaring higher.
No, Trump Cannot Open the Country Back Up Whenever He Wants
The president again insisted that the federal government can open the country by fiat. It cannot.
How We Lost the War on Poverty
Amity Shlaes concludes in her new book that grand governmental schemes to broadly reorder society are doomed to fail.
In Dramatic Shift, Trump Tells Nation To Stay at Home Until the End of April
Plus: 13 percent of NYPD out sick, Seattle slows the spread, and more...
Lawmakers, White House Finalize $2 Trillion Coronavirus Stimulus: 'The Largest Main Street Financial Package' in U.S. History
The package doubled in cost over the course of the negotiations.
The Most Libertarian Congressman Wants To Send People Checks. Here's Why.
"Americans need fast, direct relief," says Justin Amash.
'It's a Very Large Package': Coronavirus Stimulus Plan Now Costs More Than $1 Trillion
Lawmakers are still seeking a compromise.
Trump Declares National Emergency To 'Unleash the Full Power of the Federal Government'
But what he will do with that power remains uncertain.
The National Debt Is 'Unsustainable' and the Pentagon's Finances Are a Total Mess, Federal Audit Says
"Absent policy changes, the federal government continues to face an unsustainable long-term fiscal path," America's top auditor warns. But is anyone listening?
Can We Stop With All the Congressional Grandstanding?
Hearings aren’t about educating lawmakers or getting answers. They're all about getting good soundbites.
Republicans, Democrats Agree to Dump $738 Billion More Into the Forever War and Space Force
Plus: Tulsi Gabbard's new Afghanistan bill, SCOTUS rejects abortion case, and more...
Blood, Delusions, and Corruption in the American West
"This country is now full of men and women with long-term personal experience of contemporary guerrilla insurrection."
Secret Memos Show the Government Has Been Lying About Backpage All Along
Sealed memos fought over in federal court last week show authorities have known for years that claims about Backpage were bogus.
Democrats Debate To Determine Who Will Spend Us Into Oblivion
The idea that "deficits don't matter" has been growing among Trump-supporting Republicans. Democrats are preparing to take full advantage.
There's No Such Thing as 'Free Money' or Meaningless Deficits
As debt soars, federal payments to service the debt will crowd out the government's core spending responsibilities.
The YIMBY Movement Has Made it to D.C. Republicans Are Leading the Way.
Proposals from the White House and Sen. Todd Young highlight the role regulation plays in raising housing costs.
You Can Get a Year in Jail for Feeding Garbage to a Pig
Attorney Mike Chase, behind the popular @CrimeADay Twitter feed, talks about his new book, How to Become a Federal Criminal.
You Can Get 5 Years in Prison for Selling Llama Poop, and Other Ludicrous Laws
Mike Chase, the man behind the popular @CrimeADay Twitter feed, on his new book, How to Become a Federal Criminal
A Texas City Attorney Was Arrested and Detained for Helping Three Young Migrants on the Side of the Road
One of the migrants was gravely ill.
Will Trump's Authoritarian Impulses Derail His Deregulatory Successes?
Tariffs, threats to use antitrust regulations against big tech firms, and an interest in social media regulation could overshadow one of the adminstration's big victories
Social Security's Real Problem? Not Money, but Time.
When the program becomes insolvent in the 2030s, the inevitable cuts will hit today's workers and retirees.
When Gun Control Is Censorship
New Defense Distributed chief Paloma Heindorff on making guns, fighting lawsuits, and life after Cody Wilson
Happy Tax Day! Here Are 6 Infuriating Ways the Government Spends Your Money
Surprised? Yeah, neither are we.
GAO: Current Federal Fiscal Situation Is 'Unsustainable'
America will face "serious economic, security, and social challenges" if the national debt keeps growing at this rate.
Pentagon Spent $4.6 Million on Lobster Tail and Crab in One Month
Chalk it up to use-it-or-lose-it spending.
CBO: Budget Deficit Numbers Are Better Than Expected, but We're Still Screwed
Unless we make some big changes, things won't get much better.
Weed Website Offers Unpaid Federal Workers Free Medical Marijuana That They Can't Legally Smoke
"At a time when the nation's really divided, let's try to do something good," says BudTrader CEO Brad McLaughlin.
The FBI Won't Say if It Spies on Your Social Media Posts. Cue the Lawsuit!
"We shouldn't have to think about self-censoring what we say online."
Most Americans Want Congress to Fix Budget Crisis, Increase Spending. Huh?
You can't have it both ways.
Stop Pretending the Smithsonian, National Park Closures Are a Crisis
Yes, the government shutdown is to blame. No, it's not that big of a deal.
House Dems' Plan to Reopen the Government Probably Won't Work. Thank Trump.
It all comes down to one man.
The Government Is Definitely Going to Shut Down Tonight. Maybe.
No but really, the shutdown is probably going to happen.
It Looks Like Trump Won't Shut Down the Government Over Border Wall Money
It sounds like Trump is folding, which is probably for the best.
Trump's Border Wall Is a Bad Idea. So Is a Government Shutdown.
The best we can hope for is that Trump gives in.
Federal Workers Warned Against Talk of 'Impeachment,' 'the Resistance'
How much does the Hatch Act cover?
Hard at Work: Government Network 'Exploited' by Malware, Thanks to Russian Porn Sites
All because one public servant downloaded porn onto his government-owned laptop.
Pew Map Shows One Reason a National $15 Minimum Wage Won't Work
The value of $15 varies greatly across the country and even within the same states.
Federal Student Loan Forgiveness Programs Are Useless. A Juvie Teacher's Story Shows Why.
"We consistently allow the government to develop…programs like this that sound really great on paper but have no practical benefit," Keith Bradford says.
Trump Remembers Budget Deficit, Announces Federal Pay Freeze
The federal government has run up a deficit of $684 billion this year. The CBO predicts that number will exceed $1 trillion in 2019.
