Cascading waterfalls. A tree-lined reflecting pool. A “place of rest and contemplation.”
If this sounds like an advertisement for a five-star resort, guess again. It’s the design plan for a government office building in Washington D.C.
Just when you thought Washington couldn’t get any more reckless with your taxpayer dollars, comes news of a $216 million “upgrade” to the headquarters of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
The renovation would cost about $590 per square foot – more than it cost to construct the Trump World Tower in New York City, the Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, and the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, in Dubai, according to a congressional committee.
A project planning document offers this description: "under the trees, the soft contrast of the stone dust floor further implies a removed place of rest and contemplation."
Making matters worse, when questioned by the Inspector General’s Office about the cost, the Bureau conveniently said it lost all documentation of the decision to renovate the building.
It is appalling that the very agency tasked with helping Americans make responsible financial decisions is shoveling money into an ornate project while our nation sinks deeper into debt.
The Bureau’s funding comes from the Federal Reserve and therefore did not require congressional approval and is outside the reach of Congress. Nonetheless, I have asked the House Financial Services Committee to look into this disturbing boondoggle on behalf of the American taxpayer.
Irresponsible spending like this would be far less likely to occur if we had a constitutionally mandated balanced budget amendment. It’s obvious we can’t count on the judgment or restraint of unaccountable bureaucrats.
News 
Market Data 
Discover 
