Federalist Radio Hour John Hart On Wasteful Government Spending: Americans Deserve Transparency
8 snips
Oct 17, 2025 John Hart, CEO of OpenTheBooks and expert in federal spending and government transparency, joins the discussion on the urgent need for accountability in government. He highlights the implications of ongoing government shutdowns and the political theater surrounding them. Hart shares shocking examples of wasteful spending and argues for real-time transparency to empower citizens. He stresses the importance of reorganization in federal agencies and the necessity of modernizing safety net programs to combat unsustainable spending practices.
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Transparency As Democratic Oxygen
- John Hart argues transparency is the oxygen of the public square and essential for accountability.
- He says real-time access to America's checkbook would let citizens see federal transactions immediately.
Coburn–Obama Pact Built Oversight Tool
- Hart recounts working with Senator Coburn and young Barack Obama to push federal spending transparency via USAspending.
- He credits the site for spawning an ecosystem that continues oversight and exposes misuse.
Outrageous Line-Item Examples
- Hart lists vivid examples: $20,000 for drag brunches in Ecuador and NIH beagles injected with cocaine.
- He uses these to illustrate the absurdity and public-relatable examples of waste.
