A US political term for when government funds are used for projects which benefit certain local groups or constituents, and show their political representative in a good light.

Wasteful and unnecessary projects that politicians secure for their local districts, usually to gain favor with local voters. The term dates from the days when salted pork was occasionally handed out to slaves from large barrels. An observer once wrote that the mad rush of politicians to get their district's share of treasury funds looked like [..]