Pursuit's Take
The federal government spends $1.5 billion every year on “public relations.” GAO examined how a handful of agencies, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) spend their advertising dollars. According to the report, “most public relations spending focused on educating the public about their specific tools, resources, and programs.” For example, the CFPB spent money asking consumers to make better financial decisions and FEMA encouraged consumers to buy flood insurance.
Government-wide Public Relations Spending
1.5 Billion
Spent annually