This Week In Waste – July 10, 2026
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.
New Report: Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation Has Yet to Deliver Any Meaningful Savings for Taxpayers
On July 7, 2026, the American Council for Capital Formation released a report on the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) commissioned by the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW). The report concluded that CMMI increased rather than decreased spending, created few successful models, and vastly overestimated potential savings. The report included an estimate that CMMI could cost up to $8 billion through 2033, bolstering CCAGW’s push to eliminate the agency and save money for taxpayers. Read more here.
The Big Beautiful Bill’s Graduate Loan Limits Go into Effect
On July 1, 2026, new graduate student loan limits enacted under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act took effect. There will not be any new Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loans, and annual limits on other loans were restored. The reforms will save an estimated $307 billion over 10 years, increase accountability for student performance, and reduce lifetime student debt. Read more here.
The Earmark Book Is Back, and Congress Still Hasn’t Learned
A July 8, 2026, article by former Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) cited CAGW’s 2026 Congressional Pig Book noting that the earmarks, which reached $24 billion are “the fourth-highest total since the group first released its annual ‘Pig Book’ in 1991.” Former Rep. Buck also stated, “When a lawmaker sneaks a multimillion-dollar project into a bill at the 11th hour without a vote, the message is clear: The rules don’t apply to them.” Read more here.
Womack, Case, Huizenga, and Peters Introduce Bill to Fix America’s Budget
On June 24, 2026, Reps. Steve Womack (R-Ark.), Ed Case (D-Hawaii), Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.) and Scott Peters (D-Calif.) introduced H.R. 9452, the Budgeting for a Better America Act, which would establish a biennial budget process and a National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. The commission would provide its report within one year after its members are appointed and submit its recommendations as a joint resolution to be voted on by Congress. Read more here.
Secretary Wright Applauds End of New Federal Wind and Solar Subsidies
On July 4, 2026, Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced the end of federal tax credit subsidies for new wind and solar projects not currently under construction. The date was set in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and marks the end of what the secretary called “about 35 years” of taxpayer support for these industries. He noted that both wind and solar increase costs while providing little energy in return. Read more here.
South Carolina Reins In Agency Power with Regulatory Reform
On June 30, 2026, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster (R) signed into law the Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act, modeled on the federal Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act. The legislation requires legislative approval of new regulations that cost more than one million dollars over five years, reduces the role of agencies in regulatory decision-making, and facilitates review of outdated regulations. Read more here.
