The government shutdown has exposed just how broken Washington, D.C. really is.
Families across America are watching their savings disappear while bureaucrats refuse to pass a basic budget.
And federal agencies were caught incinerating taxpayer money with this awful mascot scheme that will make your blood boil.
The costume scandal that will make your blood boil
While hardworking families struggle to put food on the table, government bureaucrats are dancing around in costumes, wasting taxpayers’ hard earned money.
We’re talking about ridiculous characters like Franklin the Fair Market Fox at Housing and Urban Development, Puddles the Blue Goose at Fish and Wildlife, and Owlie Skywarn at the National Weather Service.
The government spent a staggering $250,000 with one Ohio-based costume company in recent years, according to revelations from Senate investigators.
But that’s just the beginning of this outrageous waste.
Federal agencies have been caught spending taxpayer money on dozens of ridiculous mascots and costumes across multiple departments.
These aren’t essential services – they’re government-funded clown shows being paid for with hard-earned tax dollars.
Beyond mascots, the government has spent more than $600,000 on coloring books, $60,000 on key chains, $33,000 on snuggies, $17,000 on drink koozies, and $16,000 on fidget spinners.
The real cost of Washington’s bloated bureaucracy
Here’s what should make every taxpayer livid: maintaining 750,000 non-essential federal workers costs $400 million every single working day.
Since this government shutdown began, that tab has crossed $2.8 billion – and counting.
But the waste goes far beyond silly costumes and promotional items.
The federal government is spending approximately $1.8 billion annually on advertising and public relations campaigns – more than twice the amount dedicated to breast cancer research.
Some federal employees have been caught documenting their own laziness, though specific details about Netflix viewing and naps during work hours remain under investigation by congressional oversight committees.
It gets worse.
Congressional investigations have uncovered serious problems with federal employee accountability, including cases of workers holding multiple government positions simultaneously.
The Double Dippers Act, introduced by Ernst to address these issues, aims to cross-check payrolls and identify employees who may be billing taxpayers multiple times for overlapping work schedules.
These accountability measures are designed to prevent the kind of billing irregularities that have cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars over multiple years.
The hypocrisy is staggering
Look at what’s happening right now.
Flight delays are plaguing travelers because of air traffic controller shortages.
The FDA can’t keep up with processing applications for potentially life-saving medications.
Our military personnel – the people who actually defend this country – face uncertainty about their next paycheck because Congress remains deadlocked on basic budget legislation.
But somehow there was always money for Franklin the Fox and Puddles the Goose.
This is exactly what’s wrong with Washington, D.C.
The bureaucrats protect their pet projects and useless positions while the essential functions of government fall apart.
They’ll fund mascots before they’ll fund the military.
They’ll pay people to play chess before they’ll process drug applications that could save lives.
Congress finally fights back
House Republicans have already passed budget legislation and forwarded it to the Senate, where Democrats are demanding a 60-vote threshold to advance.
Republicans control 53 seats, but three Democrats – John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Catherine Cortez-Masto of Nevada, and Independent Angus King of Maine – have broken ranks to support the Republican budget package.
But momentum is building to slash wasteful expenditures.
Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, who chairs the Senate DOGE caucus, is preparing to demand the immediate termination of "do-nothing bureaucrats" and their absurd mascot programs.
Ernst has also introduced the Stop Wasteful Advertising by the Government (SWAG) Act, which would prohibit federal agencies from spending taxpayer money on promotional items and mascots unless specifically authorized by Congress.
It’s about time someone in Washington started taking this seriously.
What this really means for America
Here’s what every working American needs to understand: this isn’t just about mascots and lazy employees.
This is about a government that has completely lost touch with the people it’s supposed to serve.
While families are choosing between groceries and gas, Washington bureaucrats are playing dress-up games with your money.
While small businesses are shutting down because of impossible regulations and economic policies, federal workers are getting paid to watch Netflix.
This is the swamp that needs to be drained.
The American people work hard, pay their taxes, and expect their government to operate efficiently.
Instead, they get Franklin the Fox and employees who brag about doing nothing.
This shutdown might be the best thing that’s happened to government accountability in decades.
For the first time in years, we’re actually talking about which government workers are essential and which ones are just expensive decorations.
The answer should terrify every taxpayer who’s been funding this circus.
¹ Victoria Churchill, "Furry fury at government wasting $250,000 on creepy mascots… as families face bankruptcy amid brutal shutdown," Daily Mail, October 9, 2025.