The article argues that the Federal Reserve's recent rate hike decision, while justifiable on inflation grounds, highlights a critical lack of an underlying, transparent policy framework. The core problem is that the Fed's decisions appear discretionary, leading to market uncertainty because the committee's judgment, rather than clear data, dictates policy shifts. The author proposes that the Fed adopt a formal monetary policy rule—an algebraic formula linking the target rate to indicators like inflation and unemployment—to replace subjective guidance. Implementing such a rule would provide market predictability, enhance transparency, and shield the Fed from political attacks by making deviations from the standard easily quantifiable.
Treasury Prevents $99 Million to Deceased Recipients Through Do Not Pay
English Summary
The Do Not Pay (DNP) system is a highly effective federal safeguard that prevents improper payments by screening applications against fraud databases before funds are disbursed, saving taxpayers billions in waste and abuse. Evidence shows DNP's strong ROI; for instance, it recently blocked $99 million to deceased recipients and prevented over $11 billion in potential improper payments in FY 2025. However, the system is currently underutilized (used by only 4% of eligible programs), leaving massive gaps in federal spending integrity. To maximize its impact—and address far larger sources of error like financial data or employment status—Congress must pass legislation to grant DNP access to restricted databases, such as IRS tax returns. Expanding DNP through law will shift the government from costly 'pay and chase' recovery efforts to proactive prevention.
中文摘要
「不支付」（Do Not Pay, DNP）系統是一項高效的聯邦保障機制，它能在撥款前透過比對欺詐資料庫來預防錯誤付款，從而為納稅人節省數十億美元的浪費和濫用損失。證據顯示DNP具有強勁的投資回報率（ROI）；例如，它近期成功攔截了給已故受領者的9,900萬美元，並預防了2025財政年度超過110億美元潛在的不當支付。然而，該系統目前仍利用不足（僅有4%的合格計畫使用），導致聯邦支出完整性存在巨大漏洞。 為最大化其影響力——並解決更廣泛的錯誤來源，例如財務資料或就業狀態——國會必須通過立法，賦予DNP權限存取受限制的資料庫，例如美國國稅局（IRS）的報稅紀錄。透過法律擴展DNP，將能使政府從成本高昂的「事後追討」模式轉向主動預防。
Related Entries
-
1.
-
2.
The brief challenges current border policies that allow agents to search travelers' digital devices without a warrant, arguing this violates the Fourth Amendment. Cato contends that the existing 'border-search exception' is being misused to grant the government an overly broad, warrantless window into private digital lives. The core argument is that personal possession of data should not be treated as a vulnerability, while third-party cloud storage should not be treated as a refuge. If upheld, these policies transform routine border crossings into invasive investigative checkpoints, significantly eroding constitutional privacy rights.
-
3.
The ongoing Ebola outbreak in the DRC serves as a critical warning that the global health security system is fundamentally unprepared for future biological threats. The difficulty in containing this outbreak is compounded by the rising risk of emerging pathogens and the growing potential for AI misuse in bioweapon development. Policy must therefore shift from reactive, crisis-driven funding to sustained, proactive investment in resilient public health infrastructure, particularly in conflict zones. Addressing this requires strengthening global surveillance, ensuring consistent international cooperation, and mitigating the intersection of conflict, climate change, and disease spread.
-
4.A Design Lab Pilot to Inform Strategies for Expanding Access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder in Community Mental Health Centers (RAND)
Despite MOUD being the standard of care for opioid use disorder, access remains severely limited in Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs), which serve the primary population with co-occurring disorders. A Design Lab pilot identified payment limitations and regulatory complexity as the chief barriers to implementation. The most feasible and high-impact strategy identified was establishing a structured learning exchange between CMHC leaders and insurers to improve reimbursement understanding. Policymakers and payers are therefore advised to pilot this learning exchange model to initiate broader payment reform and expand evidence-based care for this vulnerable population.
-
5.
The article argues that modern conflicts are increasingly defined by attrition, driven by three strategic gaps: the difference between nominal military power and usable capacity; the difficulty of achieving breakthroughs in a technologically advanced battlefield; and the detachment of military means from clear political objectives. Evidence from Ukraine and the Middle East demonstrates that sustained logistics, rapid technological adaptation, and proxy networks are now more decisive than sheer military size. For policymakers, this implies a strategic shift away from seeking short, decisive victories toward preparing for prolonged, high-cost engagements, requiring a focus on sustainable supply chains and defining concrete, attainable political end-states.