Why is the treasury department buying survival kits? | Emergency Preparedness | Forums

I wonder if it's just purchases to use up any leftover budget money.  I was a biochemistry TA in college and the head of the department came into my office one afternoon and told me we had 4 days to spend $23000, so make a list of anything we needed and add some wish list items. His explanation was that if we didn't spend the money, someone would think we didn't need it and we'd lose it in next year's budget.