What is the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW)?

The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste is the lobbying arm of Citizens Against Government Waste, the nation's largest non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government. CCAGW represents more than one million members and supporters nationwide.

What is CCAGW's mission?

CCAGW's mission is to eliminate waste, fraud, abuses, and mismanagement in the federal government.

What is CCAGW famous for?

CCAGW's most famous publication is its annual Congressional Ratings. The Ratings evaluate the voting records of each member of Congress on key tax and spending issues.

Government Waste Watch is the group's newspaper, which is distributed three times a year to members of CCAGW, Congress, and members of the media nationwide.  Government Waste Watch is a joint publication of CCAGW and Citizens Against Government Waste.  

Wastewatcher is CCAGW's monthly dispatch to members of the news media. Culled from dense General Accounting Office reports, obscure news items, and the occasional account of a whistleblower, Wastewatcher's stories capture headlines by transforming the dry matter of federal financial management into tales of government ineptitude.  Wastewatcher is a joint publication of CCAGW and Citizens Against Government Waste.

How was CAGW founded?

Founded in 1984 by the late industrialist J. Peter Grace and syndicated columnist Jack Anderson, CCAGW and its sister educational foundation, Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW), are the follow-on organizations to President Ronald Reagan's Private Sector Survey on Cost Control, also known as the Grace Commission.  In 1982, President Reagan driected the Grace Commission to "work like tireless bloodhounds to root out government inefficiency and waste of tax dollars."  For two years, 161 corporate executives and community leaders led an army of 2,000 volunteers on a waste hunt throughout the federal government.  Funded entirely by voluntary contributions of $76 million from the private sector, the search cost taxpayers nothing. The Grace Commission made 2,478 recommendations which, if implemented, would save $424.4 billion over three years, an average of $141.5 billion a year all without eliminating essential services. The 47 volumes and 21,000 pages of the Grace Commission Report constitute a vision of an efficient, well-managed government that is accountable to taxpayers. CAGW has worked to make that vision a reality and, in 20 years, has helped save taxpayers $944 billion through the implementation of Grace Commission findings and other recommendations.

How is CCAGW funded?

CCAGW does not accept government funds. CCAGW and its sister organization, CAGW, rely almost entirely on voluntary contributions to support their work.  In the most recent accounting year, individuals provided 74 percent of the organizations' combined contributions, while corporate and foundation gifts accounted for the other 26 percent.

How do I become a member of CCAGW?

To join CCAGW, make a contribution using the secure form on our website, or by sending in your contribution with our Mail-in Form. For more information about the organization, please e-mail us at membership@cagw.org.