Home | Citizens Against Government Waste

Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) was established in 1984 following the release of the Grace Commission report under President Ronald Reagan. The organization’s mission is to conduct research and public education on government waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement. CAGW was the first organization to uncover and publicize a comprehensive list of earmarks through its annual Congressional Pig Book. To date, CAGW has helped to save taxpayers $2.4 trillion.

Critical Waste Issues for the 119th Congress

CAGW's Critical Waste proposals are essential to creating a more effective and efficient government and reining in excessive spending.

2024 Congressional Pig Book

The Congressional Pig Book is CAGW's annual compilation of the pork-barrel projects in the federal budget.

The Latest

The WasteWatcher

This Week in Waste - April 25, 2025

This Week in Waste highlights how taxpayer dollars are being wasted and efforts to fight back against this waste.

Eric Maus April 25, 2025

The WasteWatcher

DOT Terminates Funding for Texas Train

The Trump administration is right to cancel federal funding for inherently wasteful high-speed rail projects.

Alec Mena April 25, 2025

The WasteWatcher

In a World of AI, Intellectual Property Rights Must Be Protected

Protecting intellectual property should be on the forefront on World IP Day.

Deborah Collier April 25, 2025

The WasteWatcher

This Week in Waste - April 18, 2025

This Week in Waste highlights how taxpayer dollars are being wasted and efforts to fight back against this waste.

Eric Maus April 18, 2025

The WasteWatcher

Executive Order Expedites Defense Procurement and Increases Reliance on Private Sector

A Trump administration executive order would streamline defense procurement and prioritize existing private sector products.

Sean Kennedy April 18, 2025

The WasteWatcher

California High-Speed Rail is Still a Multi-Billion Dollar Boondoggle

Sacramento’s quixotic project leads the way as the nation's most expensive and wasteful passenger rail boondoggle

Alec Mena April 17, 2025

Action Center

National Petition to Stop IRS Spying

TELL CONGRESS: Do Not Raise the Debt Limit Without Cutting Wasteful Spending

TAKE ACTION: Oppose Earmarks

TELL WASHINGTON: Cut Government Waste!

Porker of the Month

Sen. Elizabeth Warren

April

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is CAGW's April 2025 Porker of the Month for her efforts to expand the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) Direct File system to prepare and collect everyone’s taxes.

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito

March

Sen. Capito wants to force taxpayers to pay for green energy school buses since they are manufactured in her state.

Rep. Melanie Stansbury

February

Rep. Stansbury is CAGW's February 2025 Porker of the Month for lambasting cost-cutting proposals by DOGE.

Citizens Against Government Waste works to eliminate waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government through research and public education.