Some argue that the federal government paid out far too much money to too many people under the headline of “pandemic relief aid.”

The list includes up to $3,200 per person in cash, expanded and extended unemployment and food stamp benefits, child tax credits, mortgage assistance payments, rent relief payments, help with utilities, larger subsidies for health insurance on the Affordable Care Act marketplace, business grants and low-interest loans, federal aid to cities and states with few strings attached.

But those programs, which started more than two years ago, are gone or winding do...