In an annual spree to spend money during the last month of the fiscal year, the federal government spent millions on lobster tails, steak, alcohol, golf carts, and pianos in September 2018, according to a report (pdf) by OpenTheBooks.com.
Government agencies scramble to spend taxpayer money every September, lest Congress appropriate fewer funds the following year. In September 2018, agencies spent $97 billion, an increase of 16 percent compared to the spending spree in fiscal year 2017, and a 39 percent increase from the same time in 2015.