LEASH DOGE Act

Bill Number

H.R. 1544

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

2025-07-17T19:29:53Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The LEASH DOGE Act (H.R. 1544) aims to promote transparency and congressional oversight of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a new entity created by Executive Order 14158 to improve federal government operations. It requires DOGE to report on its personnel, activities, and impacts on federal funding and employment, while establishing mechanisms for public access to this information.

Key Provisions

• Report to Congress: The head of DOGE must submit a detailed report to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. This includes:
• A list of all DOGE employees (including special government employees) and their roles.
• A list of Executive Office of the President (EOP) employees, such as senior advisors, who advise on DOGE operations.
• For each employee: Background check status and results (if conducted), security clearance status, and any conflicts of interest (including mitigation plans).
• Congressional Appearances: The DOGE head and relevant EOP advisors must attend closed meetings with the specified congressional committees to discuss:
• Current and planned DOGE activities.
• DOGE employees' access to federal computer systems and personally identifiable information (PII, which refers to data like names, addresses, or Social Security numbers that can identify individuals).
• Public Website: DOGE must create and maintain a public website providing:
• Lists of DOGE employees, their titles, and roles.
• Numbers of federal employees laid off or placed on administrative leave by agency.
• Details on funding reductions, pauses, or eliminations for federal programs, including amounts and timelines for decisions.
• Contact information for individuals to inquire about federal personnel or financial assistance status.
• Weekly updates to all information.
• Treatment of DOGE Agency Teams: Employees from federal agencies assigned to DOGE "Agency Teams" (per Executive Order 14158) are treated as DOGE employees for this Act's purposes. Agency heads must provide necessary information to DOGE to fulfill these requirements.
• Deadlines and Enforcement: All actions (report submission, meetings, website operation) must occur by March 31, 2025. Non-compliance triggers funding restrictions: DOGE funds can only support pre-January 20, 2025, activities, and no federal funds can support DOGE Agency Teams until compliance.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces new mandatory reporting and disclosure requirements specifically for DOGE, which did not exist prior to Executive Order 14158 (issued in 2025). It expands congressional oversight by requiring closed-door briefings and public transparency tools, which go beyond standard executive branch reporting under laws like the Federal Records Act or general oversight statutes. It also ties funding to compliance, a novel enforcement mechanism for this entity.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: Could limit DOGE's operations through funding restrictions if deadlines are missed, affecting efficiency initiatives across federal offices. Agencies with DOGE teams may face administrative burdens in providing data.
• Citizens and Federal Employees: Increases public access to information on job impacts (e.g., layoffs) and program funding, potentially aiding affected individuals in seeking support. It may enhance accountability but could slow DOGE's reform efforts.
• International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though DOGE's access to sensitive federal systems (including potential PII) could indirectly affect data security in international contexts if not properly managed.
• Congress: Strengthens legislative branch control over executive actions, enabling quicker scrutiny of DOGE's broad authority to review and alter federal operations.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE): Directly accountable for compliance; faces operational and funding constraints.
• Federal Agencies and Employees: Subject to DOGE reviews, with teams treated as DOGE personnel; employees may experience layoffs or funding shifts, gaining a public contact point for questions.
• Congressional Committees: Gain enhanced oversight tools, including reports, briefings, and public data.
• Executive Office of the President: Advisors involved in DOGE must disclose details and participate in meetings.
• General Public and Recipients of Federal Aid: Benefit from the public website for transparency on program changes and support contacts.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Reinforces separation of powers by mandating executive transparency to Congress, potentially challenging DOGE's autonomy under Executive Order 14158. Conflicts of interest disclosures align with federal ethics laws (e.g., 18 U.S.C. § 208), but the bill's funding restrictions could be litigated as impoundment-like actions if seen as unduly coercive.
• Constitutional: Supports Congress's oversight role under Article I (appropriations and investigations), balancing executive efficiency goals with legislative checks.
• Political: Likely to create tension between branches, as it targets a high-profile initiative associated with executive leadership. The bill's sponsors (primarily Democrats) suggest partisan motivations to curb perceived overreach, potentially influencing future efficiency reforms or inter-branch relations.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10]

Cosponsors (21)

Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51], Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6], Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5], Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16], Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]

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

• Legislative Enforcement Against Setbacks from Harmful DOGE Actions Act — issued 2025-02-24 — PDF (7 pages)