Make DOGE Permanent Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3733
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-06-04: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- Last Updated
- 2026-01-13T09:05:30Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation aims to enhance congressional oversight of federal spending by amending the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006. It provides Members of Congress with real-time access to updated information on federal awards (such as grants and contracts) and detailed payment data for individual recipients of federal assistance and federal employees.
Key Provisions
- Expanded Access for Congress: The bill requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to create a dedicated hyperlink on the existing federal spending website (USAspending.gov). This link is accessible only to Members of Congress and provides real-time updates to all information on federal awards.
- Inclusion of Individual Payment Details: For congressional users, the definition of "entity" is broadened to include individual recipients of federal assistance (e.g., people receiving grants or benefits) and federal employees. This allows access to payment information that is not available to the public.
- Definition of Member of Congress: Explicitly includes Senators, Representatives, Delegates, and Resident Commissioners.
- Update Timing: The public website continues with its standard update schedule (at least monthly), but the congressional hyperlink receives real-time data.
- Implementation Timeline: The OMB Director must establish the hyperlink within 6 months of the bill's enactment.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Real-Time Updates: The original 2006 Act requires periodic updates to federal spending data (no less than monthly). This bill introduces real-time access exclusively for Congress, shifting from batch updates to immediate availability for oversight purposes.
- Broader Scope of Data: Previously, public and general access focused on entities like organizations; the amendment extends congressional access to individual-level payment details, overriding certain privacy or aggregation limits in the existing law.
- Restricted Access: Creates a members-only portal, maintaining public transparency while adding a privileged layer for lawmakers.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The OMB and federal agencies will need to invest in technical upgrades to enable real-time data feeds and ensure secure access, potentially increasing administrative costs and data management burdens.
- On Citizens: Indirect benefits through improved congressional accountability for taxpayer dollars, though it does not change public access to spending information. Individual recipients and employees may face heightened scrutiny of their payments, raising privacy considerations.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic federal spending transparency.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Members of Congress: Primary beneficiaries, gaining tools for timely oversight of federal expenditures.
- Office of Management and Budget (OMB): Responsible for implementing and maintaining the new system.
- Federal Agencies and Employees: Must provide accurate, real-time data; employees' payment details become accessible to Congress.
- Recipients of Federal Assistance: Individuals receiving grants, contracts, or benefits, whose payment information is now viewable by lawmakers (though not the public).
- Taxpayers and Oversight Groups: Indirectly affected through enhanced legislative monitoring of government spending.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: Strengthens data privacy boundaries by limiting individual payment access to Congress only, but could invite challenges if seen as insufficiently protecting personal information under laws like the Privacy Act of 1974.
- Constitutional Implications: Aligns with Congress's oversight role under Article I (power of the purse), promoting checks on executive spending without altering separation of powers.
- Political Implications: Enhances legislative tools for auditing and investigating federal programs, potentially leading to more efficient budget scrutiny or targeted inquiries into spending irregularities. The bill's short title ("Make DOGE Permanent Act") may reference informal political initiatives, but the text focuses solely on transparency mechanisms.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (17)
Rep. Palmer, Gary J. [R-AL-6], Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9], Rep. Harshbarger, Diana [R-TN-1], Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14], Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5], Rep. Perry, Scott [R-PA-10], Rep. Crane, Elijah [R-AZ-2], Rep. Cloud, Michael [R-TX-27], Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1], Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15], Rep. Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-4], Rep. Brecheen, Josh [R-OK-2], Rep. Burchett, Tim [R-TN-2], Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36], Rep. Harris, Andy [R-MD-1], Rep. Harris, Mark [R-NC-8], Rep. Barr, Andy [R-KY-6]
Recent Actions
- 2025-06-04: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- 2025-06-04: Introduced in House
- 2025-06-04: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Make DOGE Permanent Act — issued 2025-06-04 — PDF (3 pages)