When Washington said it was sending “relief” for the COVID-19 pandemic, most of us pictured masks, vaccines, and maybe a check to help keep the lights on – not a government-funded shopping spree for grifters, wannabe moguls, and outright crooks. And those grifters and crooks included local governments and schools as well.

Thanks to a firehose of pandemic cash and a fraud-detection system about as sturdy as wet tissue, billions meant to fight COVID instead funded luxury get-aways, jewelry and a plethora of non- pandemic-related indulgences.

Let’s dig into the dumpster fire. And remember, this is only the tip of the iceberg…

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The Numbers Are Staggering
According to an Associated Press report back in 2023, they found that over $280 billion was potentially stolen, and another $123 billion wasted or misspent – roughly 10% of the total $4.2 trillion disbursed. Remember though, this report is just what the AP was able to uncover. There is surely much more money out there lurking in the shadows, quietly collecting dust in offshore accounts, backyard garages, and who knows where else.

Million-Dollar “Boutique Finance” in Connecticut
In Connecticut, Karen Gaston snatched over $1.16 million in relief funds that were supposed to be used for struggling businesses. Instead, she splurged the money on travel, luxury goods, a mortgage, and even a $39,500 ring.

Feeding Kids—or Greasing Their Own Pockets?
In one jaw-dropping scam, a major fraud ring swindled $300 million meant for children’s meals by fabricating distribution sites. One perp scored over $8 million plus luxury cars and property in Kenya.

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Corporate Sweetheart Deals
Even large corporations got in on the pandemic handouts – and not in a good way. Delta Airlines got slapped with an $8.1 million settlement for violating executive pay caps after accepting pandemic aid.

Governments get in on the game.

A report from the Associated Press has divulged many of the absurd ways that governments used their pandemic funds including new irrigation systems at Colorado Springs golf courses, renovations for a minor league baseball stadium in New York, funds for a high-end hotel in Florida; and money to pay down overdue child support in St. Louis. This is only a sliver of the outrageous pandemic spending spree that governments participated in.

Schools misusing pandemic funds too.

According to a DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) report in February, schools burned through billions of dollars of COVID-19 relief funds that, as the New York Post reports, did “little” to help students. These expenditures included renting an MLB stadium for graduation, buying an ice cream truck and even purchasing swimming pool passes. You’d think the schools could’ve at least sprung for a few air purifiers or new HVAC systems – if only to pretend they cared about spending the money on what it was actually meant for.

So while the rest of us were stockpiling toilet paper and masks, others were siphoning billions in the name of “relief” – and some of them are continuing to do so. Was it the greatest bipartisan heist ever? Looks like it.

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And the spending continues, according to multiple reports out of Michigan News Source.

A July 23rd Michigan News Source report discussed the city of Detroit redirecting $3.2 million in emergency relief from ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds toward repairing the roofs of low- income homeowners.

A July 30th Michigan News Source report talks about how the city of Ann Arbor used ARPA funds to pay for a guaranteed income program.

And an August 7th Michigan News Source report talks about Detroit redirecting $1.58 million in ARPA funds – designed to help Americans cope with pandemic-related hardships – toward installing fiber- optic cable.

At this point, “pandemic relief” has become Washington’s all-purpose slush fund – not to mention a slush fund for businesses, governments and schools all over the country. It’s a magic wand that has turned COVID cash into golf course sprinklers, ice cream trucks, hotel upgrades, and high-speed internet.

The virus is long gone, but the spending spree is still coughing up cash for every pet project under the sun. Maybe the real pandemic wasn’t COVID – maybe it was the outbreak of shameless, taxpayer- funded wish-lists masquerading as “relief.”