In relation to the Federal government, when Congress or the president spends money unwisely or on unimportant things, it is called pork barrel spending.
The term pork barrel refers to a metaphor for the appropriation of government spending for localized projects secured solely or primarily to bring money to a representative's district. The usage originated in American English. The term pork barrel politics refers to spending which is intended to benefit constituents of a politician in return for their political support, either in the form of campaign contributions or votes.
