H.R. 2069: Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025

This bill, titled the Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025, aims to enhance transparency and accountability in federal spending, particularly regarding a type of funding agreement known as "other transaction agreements." The main provisions of the bill include the following:

Reporting Requirements

The bill amends the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 to require that all "other transaction agreements" be reported on the federal government’s spending transparency website, USAspending.gov. This move is intended to provide the public with access to information about these agreements, which can sometimes be issued for research, development, and prototype projects.

Data Standardization

The Secretary of the Treasury will be required to ensure that data related to these agreements is automatically sent to the USAspending.gov website within three years of the law's enactment. Furthermore, the website will have to offer a centralized view of this data.

Annual Reports

The bill mandates that, starting one year after its enactment, the Secretary will provide an annual report on federal spending for awards that have not been posted online. This report will also explain the reasons certain data is unreported, which may include national security concerns or awards made by various federal branches.

Implementation Plans

If the Secretary fails to comply with the reporting requirements within specified timeframes, there are provisions for the publication of a detailed description of the agreements made in prior years. This will ensure ongoing accountability and encourage timely compliance with the transparency goals outlined in the bill.

Federal Agency Oversight

The bill also establishes that each federal agency must post relevant spending data to the USAspending.gov site. It includes steps to verify the accuracy and completeness of this information to ensure quality and trust in the reported data.

Inspector General Reports and Deadlines

Agencies will be required to submit reports to Congress regarding their compliance with the new requirements. These reports are to be made publicly available and submitted within certain deadlines dictated by the bill.

Government Accountability Office (GAO) Report

The bill directs the GAO to evaluate and make recommendations for potential updates to the underlying regulations concerning these reporting requirements to enhance transparency and oversight in federal spending.

Overall Goals

This legislation seeks to eliminate what its sponsors perceive as a "secret" spending culture in federal agreements, promoting greater public awareness and scrutiny of how federal funds are utilized by ensuring that details of even less common funding mechanisms are reported and accessible.

Relevant Companies

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