boondoggle

boondoggle [boon-dog-uh l, -daw-guh l] noun

1. a product of simple manual skill, as a plaited leather cord for the neck or a knife sheath, made typically by a camper or a scout.

2. work of little or no value done merely to keep or look busy.

3. a project funded by the federal government out of political favoritism that is of no real value to the community or the nation.

verb (used with object), boondoggled, boondoggling.

4. to deceive or attempt to deceive: to boondoggle investors into a low-interest scheme.

verb (used without object), boondoggled, boondoggling.

5. to do work of little or no practical value merely to keep or look busy.

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Only one govt. definition, per se, but other than #1, they all could apply to Congress and this administration.