Exclusive: The Senate's top doge leader is trying to involve large federal grants from nonprofits focused on promoting fisheries, boating and outdoors.
Senator Joni Ernst, R-Iowa and her colleagues have scrutinized federal grants for the emergence of taxpayer funding waste, fraud or abuse, and have won a $27 million grant for the Recreation Boats and Fisheries Foundation (rbff).
Over $26 million in grants have been paid, with the long-term figures being that RBFF has received $164 million in funding since 2012, of which $13 million came in 2024.
From the government website American spendingThe grant's objectives highlight RBFF's “Take Me Fishing” consumer campaign, which includes social and digital media components, ads for streaming services under the Walt Disney Company brand and “mobile phishing units” that cater to urban communities and “unserved audiences.”
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Disney contracts are worth $1.99 million Other expenditures It includes $204,000 in SEO consulting, $5 million in Minnesota for Media, Creative Development and Design, and $189,000 in Atlanta Hotel.
The nonprofit based in Alexandria, Virginia, recorded six-figure salaries for several senior officials, totaling over $1.5 million. The group's president is reportedly paid about $318,000 a year. Most others fell to the mid-$100.
However, RBFF officials defended their work in a statement to Fox News Digital, suggesting that government funds are being used responsibly.
“RBFF has a proud tradition of attracting Americans to the sport of fishing and boating,” the statement read.
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Ministry of Home Affairs sticker (AP/Molly Riley)
“By significantly increasing participation over the past decade, communities, independent businesses and manufacturers have benefited directly from increased spending.”
The RBFF said American anglers are donating nearly $150 billion in economic production and 1 million jobs nationwide.
“In fact, we know that the fisheries produce $1,500 in commercial transactions per attendee, which is a figure that promotes economic activity in all states within the association,” the organization said.
“We are fully funded through competitive grants awarded through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services through the Sports Fish Restoration Excise Tax, and our organization is supported by the state Fish and Wildlife Agency, industrial manufacturers and retailers from Alaska to Florida.”
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Ernst did not convince FoxNews Digital that “Washington will pad the pockets of hooks, lines and sinkers to pad the pockets of high-priced recreation consultants.”
She said that “special interest” should be told instead to be “going the fish.”
“The Ministry of Home Affairs needs to claw the remaining $650,000 and tell these consultants that there are other fish in the ocean.”
Fox News Digital has contacted the internal department to further comment on grants that precede current institutional leadership.
