Lawmakers Spent $7M on Dining, Housing Last Year
New report reveals which U.S. House members spent the most on meals and lodging, using taxpayer funds.
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American taxpayers spent nearly $7 million last year on meals and housing costs claimed by members of the U.S. House of Representatives, according to a new report. The reimbursement program, launched three years ago, is meant to ease the financial burden on representatives who live in their districts but also work in Washington. House members earn a base salary of $174,000, which has remained unchanged for nearly two decades.
Reimbursement Rules and Expenses
Lawmakers can be reimbursed for “ordinary and necessary expenses,” including meals and lodging, on days the House is in session or when 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 $92 per day for meals and incidentals.
Members submit monthly expense vouchers and only need to 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.
Spending Trends and Top Spenders
A Washington Post analysis found that Democrats and Republicans together spent $6.7 million on meals and lodging last year, reflecting a 21% increase from 2024. The Post identified the 10 representatives who expensed the most in reimbursements, including eight Republicans and two Democrats.
Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-Illinois) told The Post that he was within the guidelines but could not specify why he spent more than most of his colleagues. The two top Republican spenders, Rep. Baird and Rep. Hamadeh, declined to comment.
Craig Holman, a lobbyist for the nonprofit consumer advocacy organization Public Citizen, expressed concern about the lack of oversight, saying, “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.”
Source: Daily Wire
