In a stunning revelation, the Biden administration has come under fire for allocating over $1.2 million in taxpayer funds to renovate swimming pools at U.S. embassies and residences in some of the world’s most volatile regions, including Haiti, Sudan, Iraq, and even Russia. This eyebrow-raising expenditure, uncovered by Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, has sparked outrage over what many see as a flagrant misuse of public money during a time of global unrest and domestic economic strain.

Let’s dive into the deep end of this fiscal pool party: in Iraq alone, the U.S. embassy in Baghdad received a hefty $444,000 to upgrade its indoor pool’s dehumidification system, while the consulate in Erbil got over $10,000 for mechanical repairs. Meanwhile, in Moscow, a contract worth $41,259 was signed to rehabilitate the embassy pool just months after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022—a curious time to prioritize aquatic amenities over diplomatic tensions.

Sen. Ernst didn’t hold back, quipping that taxpayers are being ‘tossed in the deep end’ by Washington’s reckless spending. She’s vowed to work with the incoming Trump administration to curb what she calls the ‘splashy’ excesses of the past few years. And honestly, who can blame her for making waves when you’ve got $24,000 spent on a pool deck in Sudan—a country under a ‘do not travel’ advisory due to armed conflict and terrorism—while the U.S. embassy in Khartoum has been shuttered since 2023?

This isn’t just about pools in far-flung places; it’s a glaring reflection of misplaced priorities. While Americans grapple with rising costs at home, their hard-earned dollars are funding luxury upgrades in war zones. Other contracts, like a $173,000 project for a pool in Jakarta, Indonesia, remain partially unpaid, but the damage to public trust is already done.

As the Department of Government Efficiency continues to unearth billions in federal savings through investigations into overspending, and with Secretary of State Marco Rubio spearheading reforms to streamline bloated agencies, one can only hope this is the last we’ll hear of taxpayer-funded pool parties. Until then, it seems Washington is still swimming in murky waters.

Government Spending News

Biden Admin Splashes $1.2M Taxpayer Funds on Embassy Pools in Iraq and Russia