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Congress faces a partial government shutdown at midnight over Department of Homeland Security funding—but the border enforcement operations at the center of the fight will continue largely uninterrupted. Last summer's reconciliation bill locked in $170 billion for immigration enforcement through 2029, sitting outside the annual appropriations process. This means agencies like FEMA, TSA, and the Coast Guard could shut down while ICE operations continue with their massive funding increase. TCS Director of Research Josh Sewell joins Steve Ellis to break down how Congress gave up the power of the purse, why this shutdown is different from previous ones, and what taxpayers need to understand about budget gimmicks that prioritize political expediency over fiscal accountability. 

Just when you thought Pentagon spending couldn't get more out of control, President Trump proposes a 50% budget increase in one year—rocketing Defense spending from $901 billion to $1.5 trillion. That's $500 billion more... and tariffs won't cover it. On Budget Watchdog All Federal, host Steve Ellis and TCS policy analyst Gabe Murphy break down why this "dream military" proposal is fiscal madness, explore a new executive order targeting defense contractor stock buybacks, and examine why Congress should have a say before military action in Venezuela costs taxpayers even more. The first episode of 2026 pulls no punches on defending your tax dollars. 

The Trump administration has announced a $12 billion agricultural bailout package as trade wars squeeze American farmers—a familiar scenario from the first Trump administration. TCS Director of Research and Policy Josh Sewell joins host Steve Ellis to break down the "Farmers to Family Bridge Aid" package, examining who receives payments, what's actually in the relief, and whether a one-time check provides real certainty.

With nearly 30 billion-dollar extreme weather events in 2024 alone, disaster costs are spiraling out of control—and Congress is finally taking action. Steve Ellis sits down with TCS Director of Research Josh Sewell and Policy Analyst Tyler Work to examine the FEMA Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation that could modernize America's approach to disaster preparedness and response. They explore what the bill gets right—from elevating FEMA back to cabinet-level status to expanding mitigation funding—and where critical gaps remain. The conversation covers transparency reforms, the need for smarter rebuilding standards, the importance of front-end investment over back-end bailouts, and why federal disaster programs must stop subsidizing development in high-risk zones. At stake: whether reform delivers real resilience or just repeats costly mistakes. 

Nearly half a billion dollars spent, families separated over the holidays, small businesses operating short-staffed, and violent crime was already declining. TCS Policy Analyst Gabe Murphy breaks down the mounting taxpayer costs of National Guard deployments to Los Angeles, DC, Chicago, Portland, and Memphis, explaining why these expensive missions are a solution in search of a problem. From the unprecedented legal battles over the Posse Comitatus Act to the economic ripple effects on Guard members' civilian employers, this episode reveals what taxpayers are really paying for when federal troops patrol American cities. With deployments extended through at least February and no end in sight, the price keeps climbing while troops miss training, lose time with loved ones, and stand guard against an emergency that doesn't exist. 

After 43 days, the longest government shutdown in U.S. history has ended. But at what cost? Steve Ellis and Josh Sewell break down the $60 billion price tag taxpayers absorbed for absolutely nothing. Beyond the waste, the Trump administration used the shutdown to expand executive control over federal spending, bypassing Congress to reallocate funds and lay off thousands of workers. The compromise bill may have reversed those moves, but it revealed a dangerous willingness to ignore constitutional spending authority. With another shutdown deadline looming on January 30th and Congress punting on actual appropriations bills, the fiscal dysfunction continues. No victories here—just billions wasted and constitutional concerns that should alarm every taxpayer. 

In the midst of a full government shutdown, the Trump administration has taken an unprecedented step: firing thousands of federal workers while government funding remains frozen. The problem? This might violate the Anti-Deficiency Act, a law on the books since 1884 that prevents the government from spending money it doesn't have. TCS President Steve Ellis and Director of Research and Policy Josh Sewell break down why conducting reductions-in-force during a shutdown—which trigger severance payments, administrative costs, and legal battles—could be illegal, and why shifting Pentagon funds to pay military salaries sets a dangerous precedent. Whether you think the federal workforce needs trimming or not, the Constitution is clear: Congress controls the purse strings, not the President, and taxpayers shouldn't foot the bill for costly legal battles over executive overreach. 

Celebrate our 100th episode and TCS's 30th anniversary! Join President Steve Ellis, co-founder Jill Lancelot, and former President Ryan Alexander as they reveal the untold story behind Taxpayers for Common Sense. From killing the infamous Bridge to Nowhere to becoming Washington's most trusted budget voice, discover how this scrappy startup became the go-to source for exposing government waste. Learn their secrets for staying nonpartisan, making dry numbers compelling, and why fighting wasteful spending requires relentless optimism. 

With just days until a potential government shutdown, TCS President Steve Ellis and Director of Research and Policy Josh Sewell break down the looming crisis facing taxpayers. From the controversial "pocket rescission" maneuver to the unprecedented threat of shutting down the entire government—including military pay—this episode reveals the hidden costs of political dysfunction. Learn why shutdowns actually waste taxpayer money at $1.5 billion per day while delivering zero value to American families. 

This episode of Budget Watchdog All Federal dives into the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2026, examining critical taxpayer protection measures at stake. Host Steve Ellis and policy analyst Gabe Murphy discuss the Pentagon's proposed budget increases, controversial acquisition reform proposals like the FORGED and SPEED Acts, and key amendments, including Pentagon audit accountability measures and right-to-repair provisions. They also cover unfunded priority lists, the costly Golden Dome missile defense program, and recent developments in defense spending that could impact taxpayers for years to come. 

Twenty years after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, we're still making the same costly mistakes. Despite spending over $122 billion on flood control since the 1920s, average annual flood damages had tripled even before Katrina hit. TCS Director of Research Josh Sewell joins host Steve Ellis to examine how moral hazard, poor planning, and recent policy changes are wasting taxpayer dollars while leaving communities more vulnerable than ever to increasingly frequent and severe disasters. 

The EPA's delay of methane waste standards will cost taxpayers $170 million as billions of cubic feet of natural gas escape into the atmosphere instead of reaching markets. Host Steve Ellis explores this fiscal and health crisis with TCS Vice President Autumn Hanna, Center for Methane Emission Solutions' Isaac Brown, and Evangelical Environmental Network's Rev. Dr. Jessica Moerman. From lost royalty revenues to public health impacts, discover why methane waste prevention isn't just environmental policy—it's smart fiscal stewardship. 

In this episode, TCS President Steve Ellis and Director of Research Josh Sewell tackle the Trump administration's tariff bonanza and explain why counting tariff chickens before they hatch is a recipe for fiscal disaster. They break down how tariffs work (spoiler: American companies pay them), why predicting tariff revenue is about as reliable as a chocolate teapot, and explore lawmakers' creative schemes to spend money that may never materialize. From Senator Josh Hawley's stimulus-style rebate checks to a proposed agricultural fund that essentially uses tariff money to compensate farmers for tariff damage (yes, really), the hosts reveal Washington's latest adventures in wishful thinking economics. Plus: why businesses hate uncertainty almost as much as they hate filling out tax forms, and how "rule by tariff" is making economic forecasters reach for the antacids. 

The Trump administration is proposing fundamental changes to federal disaster response, shifting from FEMA's current model toward block grants that give states more control. The goal: reduce federal bureaucracy and empower local decision-making. But new analysis raises important questions about whether states have the financial capacity to handle major disasters alone. An Urban Institute study found that only 5 out of 31 disaster-affected states had sufficient reserves to cover what they would lose under proposed changes. Meanwhile, implementation challenges are emerging: delayed disaster declarations, staffing reductions at FEMA, and coordination issues between federal and state agencies. TCS President Steve Ellis and Director of Research & Policy Josh Sewell examine both sides of this debate. While federal disaster response clearly needs reform to improve efficiency and accountability, they explore whether current changes are achieving those goals or creating new problems that could cost taxpayers more in the long run.

What happens when a CT scanner breaks down in Afghanistan and soldiers can't repair it themselves? Or when the Navy has to fly contractors out to sea just to fix basic equipment? This episode dives into the Pentagon's "right to repair" problem - where service members are blocked from fixing their own gear, costing taxpayers billions and putting missions at risk. Host Steve Ellis talks with Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette from the Project on Government Oversight and TCS policy analyst Gabe Murphy about the bipartisan Warrior's Right to Repair Act. From F-35 fighter jets to broken generators in South Korea, discover how contractor monopolies are keeping our military from maintaining their own equipment - and why 74% of Americans support giving our troops the tools and training to fix what they own. Can Congress finally break the cycle of costly contractor dependency? Find out why this common-sense reform has everyone from Elizabeth Warren to Republicans rallying behind our service members' right to repair.