Taxpayers covered nearly $7 million in meals and housing costs for members of the U.S. House of Representatives last year, according to a Washington Post analysis that identified the ten lawmakers who claimed the most under a reimbursement program launched three years ago.
The combined tab for Democrats and Republicans reached $6.7 million in 2025 — a 21% increase over the prior year. The program is intended to ease the financial burden on representatives who keep homes in their districts while also living and working in Washington, where the House base salary of $174,000 has stayed flat for nearly two decades.
How the Reimbursements Work
Under the rules, members can be reimbursed for “ordinary and necessary expenses,” including meals and lodging, on days the House is in session or when they are in Washington for committee business. Payouts cannot exceed the federal government’s daily travel rates: in 2025, lodging ran between $183 and $276 per day depending on the month, while meals and incidentals were capped at $92 per day.
Members submit monthly expense vouchers and only need to certify that they incurred the expenses. Representatives whose primary residence sits within 50 miles of the Capitol generally cannot claim lodging, except in what the Congressional Handbook describes as “extraordinary circumstances.”
The Post identified eight Republicans and two Democrats among the ten highest spenders, though the report did not list them all by name in the material reviewed. Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-Illinois) defended his spending when asked why he exceeded the vast majority of his colleagues. “I’m within the guidelines. I don’t know specifically,” he told the paper.
The two top Republican spenders, Rep. Baird and Rep. Hamadeh, declined to comment.
Oversight Concerns
The disclosure has renewed questions about how closely the reimbursement system is monitored. Craig Holman, a lobbyist for the nonprofit consumer advocacy group Public Citizen, told the Post that enforcement largely rests with congressional leadership.
“We’re relying on the internal workings of party leaders in Congress to watch and enforce the rules,” Holman said. “And, boy, I feel very uncomfortable doing that.”
Because members self-certify their expenses and the reimbursement cap is set by federal travel rates rather than a strict audit, the program leaves room for interpretation about what qualifies as necessary. The 21% year-over-year increase suggests more members are using the benefit, or that individual claims are growing — or both.
Supporters of the reimbursement program argue it helps lawmakers who are not personally wealthy afford two residences, which could broaden the pool of people able to serve. Critics counter that the lack of detailed public accounting makes it difficult to judge whether the spending is justified.
The Post’s analysis arrives as Congress faces broader scrutiny over spending and transparency. How the $6.7 million was distributed — and whether the ten highest claimants will face any consequences — remains an open question, with party leaders ultimately responsible for policing the rules.
Source: www.dailywire.com — https://www.dailywire.com/news/see-it-which-lawmakers-spent-the-most-taxpayer-money-on-dining-out-last-year