Government Funding of Unusual Experiments
The federal government has allocated funds for bizarre experiments, including administering cocaine to dogs and encouraging binge drinking in ferrets.
These examples are part of Senator Rand Paul’s Festivus report, unveiled on Tuesday. The Kentucky Republican utilizes this mock holiday to express his concerns about government spending and spotlight instances of waste, which he estimates exceed $1.6 trillion when factoring in interest payments on the national debt.
The 2025 report outlines various expenditures, such as the Department of Health and Human Services paying social media influencers $40 million to promote COVID-19 vaccinations among minority groups and the State Department investing $1.5 million to support American films, television shows, and video games internationally.
“No matter how much taxpayer money Washington burns through, politicians can’t help but demand more. Fiscal responsibility may not be the most crowded road, but it’s one I’ve walked year after year — and this holiday season will be no different,” stated Mr. Paul, who chairs the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
“So, before we get to the Feats of Strength, it’s time for my Airing of (Spending) Grievances,” he added, referencing a tradition popularized by the 1990s sitcom “Seinfeld.”
The bulk of what Mr. Paul considers waste stems from a record $1.2 trillion in interest payments made by the Treasury this year on a staggering $38.4 trillion national debt.
The report also highlights over $400 billion in wasteful spending outside interest payments for 2025, including significant funding for gain-of-function research involving animals like dogs and monkeys.
$13.8 Million on Beagle Experiments:
This includes over $13.8 million allocated for experiments involving beagles at the University of Missouri-Columbia that were initially approved during Anthony Fauci’s tenure.
Cocaine Dosing in Beagles:
The experiments involve exposing numerous beagles to ticks to infect them with diseases while denying them pain relief during trials.
Binge Drinking Ferrets Project:
A project funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs involves forcing teenage ferrets to binge drink alcohol for up to 90 days before euthanizing them.
Punishing Research Practices Highlighted:
Mr. Paul criticized other agencies as well for their questionable use of taxpayer dollars on animal research projects deemed inhumane.
