Overview
Title
To amend the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 to ensure that other transaction agreements are reported to USAspending.gov, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
The "Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025" wants to make sure the government tells everyone how it spends money, especially for special deals called "other transaction agreements," by putting everything on a website called USAspending.gov. It also wants to check why some spending doesn't get reported and make sure all the information shared is correct.
Summary AI
The bill, known as the “Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025,” seeks to amend the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006. It aims to improve transparency by ensuring that all federal spending, specifically other transaction agreements, is reported on USAspending.gov. The bill requires annual reports on unreported federal spending, including reasons for non-disclosure, and mandates improvements in the quality and accuracy of data available to the public. Additionally, it sets timelines for implementing these changes and requires a plan for ensuring full compliance.
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AnalysisAI
The bill titled "Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025" aims to amend the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006. Its primary objective is to ensure that "other transaction agreements" are reported on public platforms like USAspending.gov, which is designed to enhance transparency in federal spending. The bill is in the 119th Congress, introduced in the House of Representatives by Mr. Moore from Alabama, alongside co-sponsors Mr. Panetta and Ms. Goodlander.
General Summary of the Bill
The bill proposes several key amendments:
Inclusion of Other Transaction Agreements: It mandates the inclusion of "other transaction agreements" in the federal spending data reported online, thereby aiming to increase transparency.
Data Standards and Reporting: It requires that data related to these agreements be automatically transmitted to the website, USAspending.gov, and provides a centralized view of this data. The Treasury Secretary is tasked with ensuring this information is made available within three years from the enactment of the Act.
Inspector General Reports: The bill calls for reports from the inspectors general of certain federal agencies to Congress, ensuring that transparency extends to these reviewing bodies.
General Accountability Office (GAO) Recommendations: It also directs the GAO to make pertinent recommendations regarding updates to existing Federal Acquisition Regulations to ensure compliance with transparency laws.
Summary of Significant Issues
One of the major concerns is the lack of a clear definition for "other transaction agreements," which could lead to varying interpretations and potentially undermine federal transparency. The three-year timeline for implementing data reporting also appears overly lengthy, which could delay the intended transparency improvements.
Additionally, exemptions for data due to national security or classification lack specificity, allowing potential loopholes in reporting. The bill does not specify accountability measures for failing to meet deadlines, creating a risk of non-compliance.
Another point of concern is the guidelines around data accuracy and verification, which lack specific methods or criteria, posing challenges for consistent enforcement.
Public Impact
For the general public, this bill aims to enhance transparency in government spending, offering more access to detailed information on federal expenditures. This could foster greater trust in government activities by allowing citizens to see where and how public funds are being utilized.
However, delayed implementation timelines and potential loopholes could hamper these transparency efforts, denying the public immediate accountability benefits.
Stakeholder Impact
For federal agencies, this bill introduces additional responsibilities in terms of data collection, reporting, and the assurance of data accuracy. Agencies will need to invest in systems and processes to ensure compliance with the new requirements.
Contractors and organizations engaging in transactions with the federal government may face increased scrutiny. This could be beneficial in ensuring equitable and fair use of public funds but might also create administrative burdens if reporting systems are not streamlined effectively.
The lack of specific deadlines or consequences for non-compliance might lead to varied enforcement, affecting how quickly and efficiently these stakeholders adapt to new reporting frameworks.
Conclusion
Overall, while the "Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025" demonstrates a significant stride towards improved transparency in federal funding accountability, its potential impact is somewhat tempered by vague definitions and timelines. Addressing these issues could enhance its effectiveness, fostering a more open and accountable use of public resources.
Issues
The section on other transaction agreements (Section 2) lacks a clear definition, which may lead to ambiguous interpretations and potential misuse by agencies. This could result in inadequate oversight and transparency, which are critical for public trust and accountability.
The 3-year timeline for implementing data reporting on other transaction agreements (Section 2) seems excessively long, potentially delaying the bill's intended increase in transparency and accountability.
The criteria for exempting data from being posted due to national security or classification (Section 2) are vague and could be interpreted broadly, allowing for excessive exemptions and undermining the bill's transparency goals.
There is no explicit accountability mechanism or consequence outlined if the Secretary fails to meet the reporting deadlines (Section 2), which could lead to non-compliance and further delay in transparency and oversight initiatives.
The requirement for accurate data verification by the Secretary and the Director (Section 3) lacks specificity regarding methods or criteria, potentially leading to inconsistent enforcement of data accuracy.
The section detailing agency reporting determination (Section 3) lacks criteria or a clear decision-making framework, creating potential inconsistencies in deciding which agencies must comply with reporting requirements.
The language regarding deadlines for Inspector General reports (Section 3) is complex and may be ambiguous, leading to potential misunderstandings and inconsistent compliance across agencies.
The introduction of the 'Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025' without context or background could cause confusion about the bill's objectives and implications (Section 3).
The section on display standards (Section 3) does not outline specific standards that must be adhered to, leaving room for potential inconsistency and lack of clarity in how information is presented across different agencies.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of the bill states its short title, which is the "Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025".
2. Other transaction agreement reporting Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section describes amendments to the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 requiring the inclusion and reporting of "other transaction agreements" on a public website, such as USAspending.gov. It also mandates the Treasury Secretary to establish data standards for these transactions and to produce annual reports on unreported funding, along with implementation plans if certain timelines are not met.
3. Other amendments Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The bill section amends the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 to require inspector generals of certain agencies to submit reports to Congress and make them public within specific timeframes. It also mandates that federal agencies ensure the accuracy and completeness of posted information and comply with display standards, with assessments to determine which agencies need to report, and regular publication of these lists.
4. GAO report Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The Comptroller General of the United States must, within a year of this law being enacted, recommend any necessary updates to a specific Federal Acquisition Regulation clause to align it with the requirements of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006.