Basic payment controls could eliminate billions in government fraud

Here's what's striking about government spending inefficiency: every mainstream private company has it figured out. They maintain detailed records of who authorized payments, what each transaction covers, and how to reach relevant personnel for questions. Simple. Standard practice.

Yet the federal government operates differently. The absence of these fundamental controls allows significant leakage through fraud and misappropriation. It's not complicated—implementing basic authorization workflows, payment tracking systems, and accountability checkpoints could dramatically reduce financial waste. The gap between private sector discipline and government spending practices remains puzzling when solutions are so straightforward.