The correct answer to this open question is the following.
In relation to the federal government, when Congress or the President spends money unwisely or on unimportant things, it is called "pork barrel" spending.
This is an old and questioned practice that some legislators do to try to appropriate money to local spending, favoring its interest in any specific location. Most of the times, the Congressman wants to help its district with electoral intentions. It is a derogatory term.
