Colorado Lawmakers Expensed $220,000 for D.C. Living
Congressional representatives utilized a federal reimbursement program for housing and meal costs between 2025 and 2026.
Updated on Oct. 11, 2026 in Budgeting
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Between January 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026, Colorado lawmakers claimed a combined $219,864.84 in housing and meal reimbursements through the U.S. House of Representatives. These expenses were charged against the Member Representational Allowance.
Why it matters
The federal reimbursement program is designed to offset the costs of maintaining residences in both a home state and Washington, D.C., supplementing the standard congressional salary of $174,000. It allows members to claim lodging and meal expenses while staying within local per diem rates.
Colorado lawmakers accounted for a significant portion of the broader $6.7 million in total House meal and lodging expenses recorded in 2025, a figure that represents a 21% increase over 2024. Individual totals ranged from over $43,000 for Rep. Gabe Evans to approximately $21,000 for Rep. Brittany Pettersen.
The players
Gabe Evans
Representative who expensed $43,471 in housing and meal costs.
Lauren Boebert
Representative who expensed $38,733 in housing and meal costs.
Jeff Hurd
Representative who expensed $31,460.78 over 10 months of activity.
Jeff Crank
Representative who expensed $30,734.88 in housing and meal costs.
Jason Crow
Representative who expensed $30,112.23 in housing and meal costs.
The details
Members of the U.S. House utilize their Member Representational Allowance to cover costs incurred while working in Washington, D.C. The current federal program enables these reimbursements without requiring the submission of individual receipts, though mortgage payments are explicitly excluded from coverage.
Timeline
The reporting period for House expenses began on January 1, 2025.
No expenses were listed during the congressional recess in August 2025.
No expenses were listed during the government shutdown period in October 2025.
Representative expense reporting for this dataset concluded in May 2026.
The official data reporting period ended on June 30, 2026.
Market Landscape
The use of the U.S. House Member Representational Allowance reflects a broader trend of rising operational costs within the legislative branch. This spending environment contrasts with the U.S. Senate, which has recently implemented a more restrictive reimbursement program that mandates the submission of receipts.
The expenses reflect how tax dollars are allocated toward the cost of living for elected officials in Washington, D.C. Average citizens may observe how these federal reimbursement rules differ from private sector expense policies that typically require rigorous receipt documentation.
The takeaway
Understanding how representatives manage their allowances provides insight into the fiscal operations of the federal government. Taxpayers can track future spending reports to see if the House adopts stricter receipt requirements similar to those currently used by the U.S. Senate.
Further reading
For more context on government expenditures and public fund management, visit our Budgeting section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Colorado Public Radio.
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