This Week In Waste – August 1, 2025
Welcome to This Week in Waste, a series by Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) that highlights how taxpayer dollars are being wasted in the federal, state, and local levels of government and efforts to fight back against this spendthrift behavior.
Consolidating Procurement to Drive Government Efficiency
President Trump’s March 20, 2025, Executive Order (EO) 14240 aims to eliminate waste and save taxpayer dollars by consolidating $400 billion in federal procurement for common goods and services under the General Services Administration (GSA). The order empowers GSA to take over procurement categories previously managed by other agencies to streamline purchases, increase volume discounts, and save up to $50 billion annually. Additionally, EO 14240 carves out commonsense exceptions for complex or mission-specific procurements and the Executive Office of the President. Read more here.
Critical Air Traffic Control Modernization is Moving Forward
The federal air traffic control system, reliant on legacy radar and navigation technology from the mid-twentieth century, is finally set for much-needed modernization following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB). CAGW has pushed for greater transparency and accountability for air transportation modernization since 2002. The inclusion of $12.5 billion in initial funding in the OBBB for a $31.5 billion modernization plan is a significant first step to increase efficiency and safety in air traffic control. Read more here.
FCC Unanimously Approves Measure to Speed Transition from Copper Lines
On July 24, 2025, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted unanimously to accelerate the retirement of aging copper telephone lines. The new rulemaking eliminates FCC filing requirements for telecom companies decommissioning these lines, requiring only “reasonable public notice” to affected users. It also waives filing rules for outdated legacy services, supporting the transition to modern communication networks. CAGW discussed the copper wire retirement issue in its July 9, 2025 blog. Read more here.
The IRS Commissioner Says Direct File is Gone
Eliminating Direct File, which CAGW called for as soon as it began, will allow the IRS to focus on its core responsibilities, like audits and modernization. Direct File gave the agency that enforces tax law to prepare returns, which not only creates a conflict of interest but also places more burdens on taxpayers to prove that what the IRS believed the owed was not accurate. The OBBB will force the IRS to improve its public-private partnership for tax filing, which relies on existing technology and prevents the further waste of taxpayer dollars. Read more here.
Ohio Joins the Flat Tax Revolution
Ohio’s adoption of a 2.75 percent flat income tax is a major step in creating a simpler, fairer, and more competitive tax system. By eliminating the complexities and disincentives of a progressive income tax, this reform will encourage economic growth, attract investment, and make the state more appealing to both families and businesses. Read more here.
