Citizens Against Government Waste

Contact Your Elected Officials
Citizens Against Government Waste

Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) is a 501(c)(3) private, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization representing more than 1 million members and supporters nationwide. CAGW works to eliminate waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government through research and public education activities. Founded in 1984 by the late businessman J. Peter Grace and late Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Jack Anderson, CAGW is the legacy of President Ronald Reagan’s Private Sector Survey on Cost Control, also known as the Grace Commission.

The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) is the 501(c)(4) lobbying arm of CAGW.  CCAGWโ€™s mission is to advocate the elimination of waste and inefficiency in government through lobbying and grassroots activities.  Each year, CCAGW tabulates its Congressional Ratings, evaluating how each member of Congress measures up on key tax and spending votes.

In 1982, President Reagan directed the Grace Commission to “work like tireless bloodhounds to root out government inefficiency and waste of tax dollars.”  For two years, 161 corporate executives and community leaders led an army of 2,000 volunteers on a waste hunt through the federal government. The search was funded entirely by voluntary contributions of $76 million from the private sector; it cost taxpayers nothing. The Grace Commission made 2,478 recommendations, which would save $424.4 billion over three years, an average of $141.5 billion a year โˆ’ all without eliminating essential services.

The 47 volumes and 21,000 pages of the Grace Commission Report constituted a vision of an efficient, well-managed government that is accountable to taxpayers. CAGW has worked to make that vision a reality and, in three decades, has helped save taxpayers more than $1.9 trillion through the implementation of Grace Commission findings and other cost-cutting recommendations.

The late Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) called CAGW, โ€œthe tip of the spear in the fight against pork-barrel spending, corruption, and business as usual in Washington.โ€  Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has praised CAGW for doing โ€œa great job of highlighting the waste and the culture of corruption that is rampant in Washington, [which] sadly, [is] a bipartisan affair.โ€  And former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) credited CAGW with being โ€œthe vanguard of this [fight against runaway spending] for years!โ€

Today, CAGW is nationally recognized as the source of information on government waste.  CAGWโ€™s waste findings have been featured in virtually every national newspaper and newsmagazine, including The New York TimesTimeU.S. News & World ReportThe Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post, as well as on all of the nightly network television news programs and on other national network and cable news shows, such as โ€œ20/20,โ€ โ€œ60 Minutes,โ€ โ€œDateline,โ€ โ€œHannity,โ€ โ€œHardball with Chris Matthews,โ€ โ€œThe Oโ€™Reilly Factor,โ€ โ€œPBS NewsHour,โ€ โ€œSquawk Box,โ€ and โ€œYour World with Neil Cavuto.โ€ 

In carrying out its mission, CAGW authors and publishes original research and periodicals, including news articles, investigative reports, a semiannual newsletter, a comprehensive catalogue of private- and public-sector recommendations to reform the federal government, and a renowned exposรฉ of pork-barrel spending, the Congressional Pig Book.  CAGW also testifies before Congress, holds briefings to educate congressional staff, hosts conferences and public forums, and makes presentations before civic groups.

CAGWโ€™s and CCAGWโ€™s record of success stems entirely from the voluntary support provided by individual, foundation, and corporate contributors.  CAGW and CCAGW do not accept government funds and receive 72 percent of their contributions from individual Americans. 

The Thinking Conservative
The Thinking Conservativehttps://www.thethinkingconservative.com/
The goal of THE THINKING CONSERVATIVE is to help us educate ourselves on conservative topics of importance to our freedom and our pursuit of happiness. We do this by sharing conservative opinions on all kinds of subjects, from all types of people, and all kinds of media, in a way that will challenge our perceptions and help us to make educated choices.

The Sacred Honor of the 56

Today we're celebrating the sacred honor of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence.

Alligator Alcatraz: A Bold Step Toward Secure Borders

Alligator Alcatraz funded through FEMA, represents a decisive move by the Trump admin to address illegal immigration with efficiency and resolve.

Is America Broke?

Silicon Valley investor and economic commentator Balaji Srinivasan made...

Hungary: Prideโ„ข Cometh Before the Color Revolution

The EU engaged in a diplomatic siege of the Eastern European nation-state of Hungary pressuring it into embrace global trannyism or face wrath of Brussels.

Understanding the Trump/Musk Feud

The passion Trump and Musk exhibit over the OBBB is not contrived or for show. Each is addressing the problem from completely different approaches.

Noem Waives Environmental Restrictions to Fast-Track Water Barriers in Rio Grande

DHS Sec Kristi Noem waived federal environmental laws to fast-track construction of 17 miles of waterborne barriers in the Rio Grande in South Texas.

Federal Officials Warn of โ€˜Lone Wolfโ€™ Terror Threats on July 4, NY Governor Says

NY Gov. Kathy Hochul confirmed that federal officials informed her about a possible terrorist threat ahead of the July 4 Independence Day holiday.

Record 1 in 5 Buyers of New Cars Committing to $1,000-Plus Monthly Payments: Edmunds

The share of new car buyers committing to make monthly payments of $1,000 or more hit an โ€œall-time highโ€ in the second quarter of 2025.

US Economy Adds 147,000 New Jobs, Unemployment Rate Dips to 4.1 Percent in June

The U.S. job market remained strong in June, as labor conditions continued to hold up amid economic uncertainty.

US Keeps Pressure on Chinese Goods Amid Vietnam Trade Deal

Transshippingโ€”rerouting goods through a third country to disguise the origin of the productsโ€”is a focal point of trade negotiations with Asian markets.

White House Report Reveals Top Earners, Staffers Working for No Salary

The Trump admin released its yearly report that shows the salaries for White House staffers, also revealing officials who arenโ€™t accepting salaries at all.

Transportation Secretary Urges Governors to Remove Political Messages From Crosswalks, Intersections

Duffy sent letters to governors, mayor of D.C., and gov of Puerto Rico urging them to remove political messaging from intersections and crosswalks.

Bessent: US, India Near Agreement to Lower Tariffs

The United States and India are โ€œvery closeโ€ to a trade agreement, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Tuesday.
spot_img

Related Articles