Staff Reports
The Biden administration may have a new marketing slogan: “Misplacing Money, One Billion at a Time.” Recent revelations from the Department of Government Efficiency (affectionately known as DOGE) indicate that a whopping $1.9 billion from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) was ‘misplaced’ during this administration’s watch. DOGE recently shared this finding on X, and it’s safe to say that the only thing more surprising than the amount is the utter lack of accountability that seems to permeate this administration.
It turns out that these funds, once earmarked for financial services management, were casually left on the proverbial kitchen table and forgotten about. The funds have since been recovered—thanks to some newfound attention from DOGE’s Secretary and the housing guru, who presumably had a very enlightening brainstorming session. This isn’t just a little oversight; it’s an outright fiscal faux pas that illustrates the chaos of an administration struggling to keep tabs on taxpayer dollars, urging us all to ponder just how often this kind of “misplacing” occurs.
$1.9 billion of HUD money was just recovered after being misplaced during the Biden administration due to a broken process. These funds were earmarked for the administration of financial services, but were no longer needed. @SecretaryTurner and @DOGE worked together to fix the… pic.twitter.com/NDZPr8sjFC
— Department of Government Efficiency (@DOGE) February 14, 2025
In a classic bureaucratic move, the newly minted Secretary announced the formation of a DOGE task force at HUD, demonstrating a commitment to financial responsibility. Aiming to reassure taxpayers that every single dollar will be meticulously monitored for its intended purpose, the Secretary insists this administration will serve all communities—tribal, rural, and urban alike—without losing sight of good old-fashioned budget management. It must be reassuring for the public to know that the folks in charge are now ready to be more than just mediocre stewards of the treasury.
Of course, no good government agency goes without a splash of fanfare, and DOGE didn’t disappoint. Among its numerous announcements, it offered a poetic Valentine’s Day tribute to taxpayers—a clear sign that they still have a sense of humor amid all this misplaced cash. This little ditty celebrated the cancellation of 586 exorbitant contracts and saved taxpayers nearly half a billion dollars. Somehow, addressing overspending with rhyme feels more like a literary exercise than fiscal discipline—but at least it’s a creative way to distract from the magnitude of the initial blunder.
In addition to the big bucks recovered, DOGE is flexing its muscle further by ordering all 50 states to cut out any diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in public education within 14 days or risk losing federal funding. It’s a bold move, and perhaps a much-needed wake-up call for educators who have treated taxpayer dollars like an unlimited supply of candy at a parade. Thankfully, with each day that passes, it appears that the Biden administration is finally being held accountable—not by the majority, but through its surprising allies in the efficiency department. Who knew it would take a task force named after a meme to identify government waste? It seems even in the face of misplaced billions, there’s always a lesson to be learned (or perhaps a punchline in the making).
