Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., has released a report prepared by his office that says more than $70 billion in federal funds remain unspent years after being appropriated because of poorly drafted laws, red tape, mismanagement and in some cases indifference on the part of recipients.
The report, “Money for Nothing," identifies, for example, unused federal aid intended for Hurricane Katrina, over $1 billion in idle transportation funds, billions intended for HIV/ AIDS treatment and prevention that remains unspent, and unspent homeland security disaster grants.
According to the report, nearly 33 percent of highway dollars earmarked for highway projects since 1991 were not spent as of 2011, and the city of Detroit has failed to spend $100 million in federal aid including education assistance.