January 1, EXPOSED: Which Lawmakers Racked Up The Most Taxpayer Meals

Wyatt’s Take

• Taxpayers spent $6.7 million last year on meals and lodging for House members who already earn $174,000 salaries
• Ten lawmakers, mostly Republicans, topped the list with individual reimbursements nearing $40,000
• The program lacks strong oversight, leaving enforcement to party leaders instead of strict rules

American taxpayers footed nearly $7 million last year for meals and housing costs claimed by members of the U.S. House of Representatives. A new report reveals which lawmakers spent the most.

The reimbursement program, launched three years ago, is designed to ease the financial burden on representatives who maintain homes in their districts while also living and working in Washington. House members earn a base salary of $174,000, a figure that has remained unchanged for nearly two decades.

Lawmakers can be reimbursed for “ordinary and necessary expenses,” including meals and lodging, on days the House is in session or they are attending committee business in Washington. Reimbursements cannot exceed the federal government’s daily travel rates. In 2025, those rates ranged from $183 to $276 per day for lodging, depending on the month, and were $92 per day for meals and incidentals.

Members submit monthly expense vouchers and need only certify that they incurred the expenses. Lawmakers whose primary residence is within 50 miles of the Capitol generally cannot claim lodging expenses, except in “extraordinary circumstances,” according to the Congressional Handbook.

“We’re relying on the internal workings of party leaders in Congress to watch and enforce the rules. And, boy, I feel very uncomfortable doing that,” Craig Holman, a lobbyist for the nonprofit consumer advocacy organization Public Citizen, told the Washington Post.

Together, Democrats and Republicans spent $6.7 million of taxpayer money on meals and lodging last year, reflecting a staggering 21% increase from 2024, according to a Washington Post analysis.

The Post identified the 10 representatives who expensed the most in reimbursements, including eight Republicans and two Democrats.

Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN): $39,789

Rep. Abraham Hamadeh (R-AZ): $39,131

Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-IL): $37,078

Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA): $36,773

Rep. Neal Dunn (R-FL): $35,614

Rep. Mike Haridopolos (R-FL): $35,477

Rep. Troy A. Carter (D-LA): $35,442

Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA): $35,146

Rep. Nick Begich (R-AK): $35,064

Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX): $34,647

Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-Illinois) told The Post: “I’m within the guidelines. I don’t know specifically,” when asked why he spent more than the vast majority of the fellow members.

The two top Republican spenders, Rep. Baird and Rep. Hamadeh, declined to comment.

Wyatt Matters

Middle America expects its leaders to live within the same rules and budgets as regular families. When lawmakers treat taxpayer dollars like an open tab, it erodes trust and widens the gap between Washington and the heartland.