Spenser Heaps, Deseret News In the year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the state of Utah spent more than $6.7 billion in federal funds — a number that has State Auditor John Dougall concerned about future reliance on federal subsidies. Dougall, a Republican, also blasted Congress’ spending in a statement issued along with a report detailing the findings of his office’s 2020 Federal Funds Compliance Audit. “The magnitude of the ongoing federal subsidy is troubling, due to Congress’ complete disregard for any sense of fiscal responsibility, the increasing dependence of state and local governments on federal subsidies, and the heightened economic and inflationary reactions from the magnitude of irresponsible federal spending,” Dougall said in Tuesday’s statement.