))
$554 Billion in USDA Waste? The Case for a Unified Welfare System
Manage episode 481238765 series 3428608
Content provided by American Potential. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by American Potential or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.
In this episode of American Potential, host David From continues the Big Ideas for Smaller Government series with AFP Policy Director Jeremiah Mosteller to explore a staggering opportunity for reform: a unified verification system for all federal welfare and assistance programs. By streamlining the maze of 80 uncoordinated programs—many run by the USDA—American taxpayers could save over $554 billion, nearly doubling the running total of identified savings in the series to over $1 trillion.
The conversation sheds light on how the U.S. Department of Agriculture has quietly ballooned into an agency funding not only nutrition and farming but also jails and international climate hubs—spending $20 million to teach fertilizer use in countries like Brazil and Pakistan.
Jeremiah shares domestic and international models—like Project Unity in Texas and Estonia’s revolutionary e-verification system—that prove how centralized systems can improve services, protect privacy, and eliminate waste.
This episode shows how smart policy, not slashed benefits, can lead to massive savings and stronger outcomes for those in need. It's a roadmap for Congress—and a challenge to rethink how government assistance is delivered.
🔗 For more, visit AmericanPotential.com
300 episodes
Share
