How Governments Waste Billions on Unused Software Licenses

Episode 24 of The Fiscal Policy Podcast digs into a hidden drain on public budgets: unused software licenses. Lucas and Luna reveal that governments at all levels collectively waste billions of dollars annually on software subscriptions and licenses that sit idle. They focus on a 2025 audit of the U.S. federal government by the Government Accountability Office, which found that agencies spent over $3.2 billion on software licenses that went unused in a single fiscal year. The hosts break down why this happens — from fragmented procurement to lack of usage tracking — and compare it to how private-sector companies manage similar waste. They also explore reform efforts, including a 2026 executive order aimed at centralizing software purchasing. This episode offers a concrete look at a mundane but massive fiscal inefficiency that rarely makes headlines. #GovernmentWaste #SoftwareLicenses #PublicSpending #FiscalPolicy #GAO #BudgetEfficiency #GovernmentAudit #SoftwareProcurement #TaxDollars #PublicSector #WastefulSpending #ITSpending #FederalBudget #StateAndLocal #Economics #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #FiscalPolicyPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo