OpenTheBooks, his fiscal watchdog group known for its database-driven scrutiny of public spending, compiled this year-end list to highlight the government waste stories that resonated most with the public in 2025. The selections span federal, state, and local levels, focusing on improper payments, excessive compensation, immigration-related spending, defense outlays, and ideological allocations in education. The report underscores a public appetite for transparency reforms, including proposals to extend real-time spending visibility (inspired by initiatives like the DOGE movement) to state and local governments.
Here are the top 10 most-read investigations from 2025, in descending order of popularity:
DELETE, DELETE, DELETE — A broad critique of systemic government secrecy and administrative waste, emphasizing the need to eliminate hidden or abusive spending practices.
Final Tally for Biden-Era Improper Payments? $925 BILLION — The standout federal-level finding: an estimated $925 billion in improper federal payments during the Biden administration, illustrating widespread errors, fraud, and lack of oversight across agencies.
Cash for Migrants: FEMA Not the Only Agency Spending Big — Exposed multiple federal agencies (beyond FEMA) directing substantial funds toward cash assistance and support for migrants, fueling debates over immigration spending priorities.
New Orleans Police Superintendent Has Collected $2.97M from Taxpayers since 2016 — Highlighted nearly $3 million in total taxpayer-funded compensation for the city's police chief over a decade, raising questions about local executive pay amid strained municipal budgets.
Open Letter to Elon: Let’s Build America’s Checkbook — A high-profile proposal urging real-time public access to federal Treasury transactions, akin to viewing a personal bank account, to curb waste through greater citizen oversight.
Los Angeles Fires: Water & Power Officials Among Top-Paid City Employees — Revealed high salaries for utility executives in Los Angeles during wildfire crises, spotlighting perceived mismatches between compensation and service performance in local government.
DOD Had Its Most Spendy Month Since the Bush Era — Documented an exceptionally high single-month expenditure by the Department of Defense, the largest since the early 2000s, renewing concerns about unchecked military budgeting.
Fauci Household Got $3.5M Wealthier in First Year After Retirement — Reported a $3.5 million increase in wealth for Dr. Anthony Fauci's household in the year following his government retirement, largely from book deals and speaking engagements tied to his public role.
California Pumped Tens of Millions into Immigration NGOs that Fight Deportation, Track ICE and more… — Detailed state grants totaling tens of millions to nonprofit groups actively opposing deportations and monitoring federal immigration enforcement.
State of the State Schools: A Look at Public University Finances Reveals DEI, Foreign Influence and Radical Ideas Thrive Far Beyond the Ivy League — Analyzed spending at public universities nationwide, finding significant funding directed toward DEI programs, foreign-linked initiatives, and ideologically charged activities, often at the expense of core educational priorities. The study of over 12,500 public school districts revealed that statewide spending increases did not correlate with better student performance. It was enough to get the New York Post editorial board weighing in. “Far too many states are seeing tragic slippage in student achievement, and public bureaucracies burning cash on garbage that only gets in the way of better teaching is a likely cause,” they wrote. “Schools need to focus on the basics — and avoid throwing taxpayer dollars down the drain.”
The report's overall message is optimistic about 2026, positioning OpenTheBooks' data tools as key to driving policy changes and expanding transparency efforts beyond Washington. While the group's findings often draw conservative criticism of government overreach, the popularity of these stories reflects broad taxpayer frustration with unchecked spending across party lines. The organization encourages subscriptions and support for ongoing investigations into federal-to-local waste.
