As Congress fights over the budget, agencies go on their ‘use it or lose it’ shopping sprees

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Washington Post:

This past week, the Department of Veterans Affairs bought $562,000 worth of artwork.

 

In a single day, the Agriculture Department spent $144,000 on toner cartridges.

 

And, in a single purchase, the Coast Guard spent $178,000 on “Cubicle Furniture Rehab.”

 

This string of big-ticket purchases was an unmistakable sign: It was “use it or lose it” season again in Washington.

 

All week, while Congress fought over next year’s budget, federal workers were immersed in a separate frantic drama. They were trying to spend the rest of this year’s budget before it is too late.

 

The reason for their haste is a system set up by Congress that, in many cases, requires agencies to spend all their allotted funds by Sept. 30.

 

If they don’t, the money becomes worthless to them on Oct. 1. And — even worse — if they fail to spend the money now, Congress could dock their funding in future years. The incentive, as always, is to spend.

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Like sailors on leave...