BAD DOGE Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1535
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-02-24: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- Last Updated
- 2025-07-17T19:27:28Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
This bill, titled the "Bolstering America's Democracy and Demanding Oversight and Government Ethics Act" (or "BAD DOGE Act"), aims to repeal Executive Order 14158 issued by President Donald Trump on January 20, 2025. The order created the "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE), intended to modernize government software and IT systems. The bill argues that the order and its implementation have exceeded legal limits, violated federal laws and the U.S. Constitution, and allowed unauthorized actions by non-government individuals.
Key Provisions
- Short Title: Establishes the official name as the "BAD DOGE Act."
- Findings Section: Outlines 15 specific concerns, including:
- The United States DOGE Service (USDS, formerly the United States Digital Service) and the temporary U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization (USDSTO) are operating beyond their authorized scope under the executive order.
- The order created USDSTO as a short-term group for specific studies or projects (per federal law on temporary organizations), but it has engaged in broader actions like freezing agency payments, accessing employee data, controlling payment systems, locking employees out of systems, offering buyouts, and attempting to end congressionally created agencies.
- Elon Musk is leading these efforts without formal appointment as USDS Administrator or compliance with rules for federal employees (e.g., conflict-of-interest disclosures), despite being labeled a "special government employee."
- These actions violate constitutional principles (e.g., separation of powers, congressional control over spending) and multiple federal laws, such as the Privacy Act (protecting personal data), Anti-Deficiency Act (preventing unauthorized spending halts), and Administrative Procedure Act (governing government processes).
- Repeal Clause: Declares Executive Order 14158 null and void, stripping it of any legal effect.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- The bill does not amend or add new laws but directly nullifies the executive order, effectively dissolving the USDS and USDSTO as established under it.
- It reinforces existing statutory limits on executive actions, such as restrictions on temporary organizations (5 U.S.C. § 3161) and protections for congressional authority over budgets and agencies, without altering those underlying laws.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Halts DOGE-related interference, restoring control to agencies like the Office of Personnel Management (OPM, handles employee records), Bureau of Fiscal Service (BFS, manages payments), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). This could prevent disruptions like data access, payment freezes, or website alterations.
- On Citizens and Federal Employees: Protects federal workers from unauthorized buyouts, system lockouts, or privacy breaches (e.g., personnel data access). Citizens benefit from uninterrupted government services, such as payments, health information, and consumer protections.
- On International Relations: Safeguards USAID operations, potentially stabilizing U.S. foreign aid programs that could have been dismantled without congressional approval.
- Overall, it promotes stability in government operations but may slow IT modernization efforts outlined in the original order.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Congress: Gains reinforced oversight of executive actions, protecting its budgetary and legislative authority.
- Executive Branch: The President and agencies like the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) lose the DOGE framework, requiring alternative paths for efficiency reforms.
- Elon Musk and Private Entities: Ends Musk's informal leadership role and any access to government systems, impacting his influence on federal operations.
- Federal Employees and Agencies: Directly benefits OPM, BFS, CDC, FDA, USAID, CFPB, and Treasury by ending unauthorized interventions.
- The Public: Affected through preserved access to government data, payments, and services.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: Upholds statutes like the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act (limits executive withholding of funds) and Privacy Act (safeguards personal information), potentially setting precedents for challenging executive orders that enable private individuals' overreach. It emphasizes ethics rules for "special government employees" (temporary federal roles with limited authority).
- Constitutional Implications: Reinforces Article I (vesting legislative powers in Congress, including spending and appropriations) and Article II (requiring the President to faithfully execute laws), addressing alleged violations of separation of powers and the "Take Care Clause" (executive duty to enforce laws).
- Political Implications: Represents a congressional check on executive initiatives, highlighting tensions over government efficiency reforms versus democratic oversight; it could influence future debates on public-private partnerships in federal administration without altering broader policy landscapes.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (8)
Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1], Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3], Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7], Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15]
Recent Actions
- 2025-02-24: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- 2025-02-24: Introduced in House
- 2025-02-24: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Bolstering America’s Democracy and Demanding Oversight and Government Ethics Act — issued 2025-02-24 — PDF (7 pages)