Open the Books

NEW in @nypost: "Make the @DOGE revolution stick: Let Musk and taxpayers reveal what’s really in America’s checkbook," by our CEO, @johnhart333 nypost.com/2025/02/11/opi… cc: @elonmusk @MatthewTyrmand @NYPostOpinion

RESCISSIONS: @johnhart333 said package "a chance for Congress to assure taxpayers that instead of expanding federal agencies, they want to expand Americans’ personal agency and their ability to pursue happiness on their terms, with their own resources and talents." @thehill…

NEW from @johnhart333 @TheHillOpinion: John brings a bit of the late Sen. Coburn's perspective to the rescissions conversation. It's Congress' turn to get serious about spendin. The next phase for DOGE is on their terrain. cc: @thehill @MatthewTyrmand thehill.com/opinion/congre…

#TBT - TAX BREAKS FOR 3-YEAR-OLDS? IRS awarded $1.4B in Residential Clean Energy to folks who didn't own any homes to power with "clean" energy -- including a toddler! realclearinvestigations.com/articles/2025/…

ICYMI @RepAaronBean floor speech, 7/15: "The war on waste, fraud, and abuse begins today by requiring the Treasury Department to simply track, verify, and cross-check payments, and that’s what the DOGE in Spending Act will do." bean.house.gov/media/press-re…

. @SenJoniErnst making more progress on DOD reforms in NDAA; targets "Other Transaction Agreements" - secret spending not always reported publicly. Let's get it into the House version, @MikeJohnson @HASCRepublicans & stop secret spending! @johnhart333 dailysignal.com/2025/07/11/ern…

ICYMI via @MiaCathell @dcexaminer --> NIH somehow still blaming pademic for FOIA delays! 🥴[We came across the disclaimer during a survey of outrageous wait times for responses from federal agencies (up to 832 days!)] washingtonexaminer.com/news/investiga… @johnhart333 @MatthewTyrmand

Eternal FOIA Backlog: NIH is still using Covid as explanation for delayed responses in 2025! openthebooks.substack.com/p/40-months-th… @MatthewTyrmand @johnhart333

FAIRY TALE: Maryland Dept. of Health has spent $7 million in federal funds on its True You Maryland program, which taught kids about “fat pride” and used a “Gender Unicorn” for professional development. realclearinvestigations.com/articles/2025/…

.@mtapscott unpacks the new report by @open_the_books which reveals citizens are waiting on average 836 days — more than two years — to receive a response from a key Department of Commerce office on simple information requests. washingtonstand.com/news/governmen…

40 Months? The Eternal FOIA Backlog - Wait times are so long, they undercut the accountability the law is meant to provide taxpayers! openthebooks.substack.com/p/40-months-th… @johnhart333 @MatthewTyrmand @JudicialWatch

#TBT from late Sen. Coburn's "Wastebook" - hundreds of thousands to study monkey feces? realclearinvestigations.com/articles/2025/…

Trump’s White House payroll shrank 29% year-over-year, down to $44M compared to Biden's $62M last year. @johnhart333 says, "This White House is leading by example, and the president and the administration deserve credit for that." via @LarsLarsonShow @MatthewTyrmand @DOGE

No question that great staff can do great work. Coburn's oversight staff helped cut $1T over 15 years. But we should always celebrate doing more with less, as POTUS has done. And Congress should lead the way on cuts in our Constitutional republic not the WH. @open_the_books

STEP BY STEP: NY State Capitol spending $1M PER step to repair stairway, $72M total. realclearinvestigations.com/articles/2025/…

With Open the Books, you are leading the Transparency Revolution that is cutting through government bureaucracy the way water cuts through stone. If you think taxpayers deserve a responsible, accountable government, please make a gift to Open the Books today:…

RESCISSIONS: As Senate considers package, a reminder on sky-high pay for NPR, PBS execs & talent. openthebooks.substack.com/p/doge-opponen…

In a reality-based conversation, you can bridge the political spectrum & seek solutions. @AnaKasparian on LA overtime problem: "cutting the force is costing the city more, not less, while also hindering the LAPD’s ability to respond to calls for help" realclearinvestigations.com/articles/2025/…

LOLLIPOP GUILD: Acting CBP Chief Medical Officer made $323,933 before removal in 2024. He was accused of drinking while carrying a firearm & trying to order fentanyl lollipops. realclearinvestigations.com/articles/2025/…

Great decision from SCOTUS and big win for kids. The Department of Education was unconstitutional. Shifting resources to parents and local communities will improve education. @open_the_books @EDSecMcMahon foxnews.com/politics/supre…

FLASHBACK: @DoD_IG said "full extent" of $ sent to China and other countries for enahncing pathogens "unknown." That's why new @SenJoniErnst measure in NDAA is critical: it bans cash to Chinese and Russian lab research. #transparencywins oversight.gov/sites/default/…