Billions in “zombie programs” drain U.S. budget, federal review finds

• Over 1,500 federal programs, responsible for $516 billion in annual spending, are operating without active Congressional authorization, as highlighted by a federal review.
• This issue has roots in the 1980s, when Congress began failing to renew the legal mandates of numerous federal programs, leading to the creation of “zombie programs” that continue to receive funding.
• Notable programs include the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), operating without reauthorization since 1980; the Federal Election Commission (FEC), unauthorized since 1981; the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), unauthorized since 2020; the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), unauthorized since 1992; and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), unauthorized since 1993.
• The Trump administration proposed halting spending for expired programs and has taken steps to address the issue through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Policy experts are divided on the necessity and impact of these unauthorized programs.
• The proliferation of unauthorized programs undermines fiscal discipline and government accountability, highlighting the need for comprehensive fiscal reform and proper oversight to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently and transparently.

More than 1,500 federal programs, collectively responsible for an estimated $516 billion in annual spending, are operating without active Congressional authorization, according to a comprehensive federal review.

This situation, which has persisted for decades, underscores a significant breach in fiscal oversight and legislative accountability. The RealClearInvestigations report, released this month, highlights the scope of these so-called “zombie programs,” which continue to receive appropriations despite expired statutory mandates.

The issue of unauthorized spending has deep roots in the U.S. federal budget process. Since the 1980s, Congress has increasingly failed to renew the legal mandates of numerous federal programs, allowing them to continue operating through appropriations that bypass the formal reauthorization process.

One of the earliest and most prominent examples is the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), established to provide legal aid to low-income Americans. Despite its authorization expiring in 1980, the LSC continues to function with a budget of $560 million and 135 employees. Efforts to cut the LSC’s funding have been met with resistance from both political parties and advocacy groups, with left-wing outlets like Mother Jones defending the agency as a social necessity.

The scope of unauthorized spending is vast and diverse. Other examples include the Federal Election Commission (FEC), which has been functioning without congressional reauthorization since 1981. The FEC received $95 million in FY2024. Then, there is the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Its authorization expired in 2020, yet it continues to receive $28.4 billion. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) has been operating without authorization since 1992, but it has a budget of $525 million. Finally, there is the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Its authorization expired in 1993, but it remains active.

These programs are just a fraction of the more than 491 specifically-identified federal programs operating without reauthorization. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) was unable to account for the funding levels of an additional 1,000 programs in this unauthorized category.

The Trump administration’s efforts

In 2016, then-candidate Donald Trump proposed halting spending for expired programs to redirect funds to national defense. While media outlets like FactCheck.org labeled the claim as false, they conceded that Congress does not legally need to obey program authorizations.

The Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Elon Musk, has taken steps to address this issue. DOGE has already shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of Education and has cut various diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) grants. According to the “DOGE Tracker,” the agency has identified $140 billion in cost savings, representing $72 trillion in budget reductions. (Related: Trump’s DOGE saves $1 BILLION daily.)

Policy experts are divided on the necessity and impact of these unauthorized programs. Sarah Binder, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, argues that if Congress continues to appropriate funds, the programs are not truly “zombies” but are actively functioning agencies. However, critics contend that this view merely redefines the problem without addressing the lack of accountability.

“The real issue is that these programs operate without proper oversight and accountability,” said Mark Zuckerman, a fiscal policy analyst at the Heritage Foundation. “Congress needs to take responsibility and either reauthorize these programs or phase them out.”

The broader implications

The proliferation of unauthorized programs has broader implications for fiscal discipline and government accountability. According to watchdog groups, the continued funding of these programs without proper oversight undermines the principles of democratic governance and fiscal responsibility.

“The institutional complacency that has allowed unauthorized programs to proliferate for decades must be addressed,” said James Madison, a policy director at the Government Accountability Project. “Congress has a duty to ensure that every dollar spent is justified and properly authorized.”

Watch the video below where Musk hints that “strangely wealthy” Congress members are the next DOGE target.

This video is from the Treasure of the Sun channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Pentagon’s $80M waste exposed: How Musk’s DOGE Team is draining the swamp.

Trump administration executes mass firings at U.S. Institute of Peace, citing wasteful spending.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

RealClearInvestigations.com

DOGE-Tracker.com

Brighteon.com