Investigations
In-depth analysis and editorial coverage of federal spending patterns, waste, and accountability.
24 investigations • Updated February 2026
Is DOGE Actually Saving Money? A Data-Driven Reality Check
We tracked every DOGE claim against actual Treasury data. The results are striking: while headlines trumpet billions in cuts, total federal outlays tell a very different story.
Where Do Your Tax Dollars Go in 2025?
Every dollar you pay in federal taxes gets split across dozens of programs. We broke it down to the penny so you can see exactly where your money goes.
The 10 Companies That Get the Most Government Money in 2025
A handful of companies receive more federal money than most countries' entire GDP. We ranked them, traced their subsidiaries, and followed the money.
The Pentagon's Blank Check
The Department of Defense has failed every audit since they became mandatory in 2018. We dug into the numbers to understand what $501 billion in unauditable spending looks like.
No-Bid Nation: When Competition Dies
Sole-source contracts are supposed to be the exception. Instead, they've become the rule in some agencies. We mapped every no-bid contract over $10M.
The Interest Time Bomb
For the first time in history, the federal government spends more on debt interest than on national defense. And it's accelerating.
Where $11.2 Trillion Really Goes
We analyzed every dollar of the $11.2 trillion federal budget — mandatory spending, discretionary spending, and everything in between.
Which States Are Federal Welfare Queens?
The political rhetoric doesn't match the data. We compared every state's federal tax contributions to what they receive back. The results defy partisan narratives.
The Spending Explosion
In just eight years, annual federal spending surged from $4T to over $6.5T. We charted the growth across every major category to find out where the money went.
The Contractor Monopoly
Market concentration in federal contracting has reached alarming levels. We investigated how a small group of companies came to dominate government spending.
Your Tax Bill Breakdown
If you're an average American taxpayer, you paid $33,135 to the federal government last year. Here's exactly how Washington spent your money.
The Healthcare Spending Machine
Healthcare is now the single largest category of federal spending. We traced how Medicare and Medicaid grew to consume nearly a quarter of the entire budget.
Where Does Foreign Aid Actually Go?
Foreign aid is less than 1% of the budget but dominates political debate. We tracked every dollar to its destination country and purpose.
The DOGE Reality Check
A detailed comparison of every public DOGE savings claim against actual Treasury disbursement data.
The $36 Trillion Debt Clock
The national debt grows by roughly $100,000 every second. Our real-time tracker puts the scale of federal borrowing in perspective.
Inside the Pentagon's Budget
The Pentagon's budget exceeds the GDP of most nations. We broke it down by service branch, program, and contractor.
State Dependency: Donors vs Takers
Some states contribute far more in taxes than they receive; others are net beneficiaries. We ranked all 50 states.
The 10 Companies That Run the Government
From Lockheed Martin to McKesson, these ten companies shape how your tax dollars are spent.
US vs The World
The US spends more on defense than the next 10 countries combined. But that's just the beginning of the comparison.
The Grant Machine
Federal grants dwarf contracts in total dollars. We mapped every grant to its recipient to reveal where the money actually flows.
Waste, Fraud & Abuse
Government auditors find billions in waste every year. We compiled their findings into a single, searchable database.
Government Efficiency & Accountability
Not all agencies are equal when it comes to getting value for money. We ranked them by efficiency metrics.
How Federal Spending Actually Works
The federal budget process is deliberately complex. This guide cuts through the jargon to explain how money actually moves through the system.
Government Shutdown Calculator
Government shutdowns don't save money — they cost it. Our calculator shows the real economic damage in real time.