New Report Reveals $22.7 Billion in Congressional Earmarks Exposed in ‘Pig Book’

Republican House lawmakers teamed up with Citizens Against Government Waste to unveil the 32nd edition of the “Congressional Pig Book,” which highlights “pork-barrel” projects in the federal budget. The book showcases earmarks totaling $22.7 billion directed towards pet projects in lawmakers’ home districts.

This year’s report identified 8,222 earmarks, with a patriotic pig named Poppy making an appearance at the press conference.

CAGW has been publishing reports on pork-barrel spending annually since 1991.

According to the Washington Examiner, several House Republicans, including Reps. Tom McClintock, Debbie Lesko, and Ralph Norman, raised concerns about earmarks at the event.

CAGW President Tom Schatz noted a 11% increase in earmarks compared to the previous fiscal year. The report highlighted states like Alaska, Maine, Hawaii, the Northern Marianas Island territory, and West Virginia as the top recipients of earmarks.

Democrats ended a decade-long moratorium on earmarks in 2021, and House Republicans voted in December 2022 to retain them in spending bills, a move criticized by conservatives.

The report highlighted lawmakers who received awards for their involvement in pork spending, such as Sen. Susan Collins, Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, Sens. Bernie Sanders and Collins, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Rep. Greg Steube, Sen. Jerry Moran, and Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith.