Delivering On Government Efficiency in Spending Act

Bill Number

H.R. 4311

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Government Operations and Politics

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-07-10: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Last Updated

2026-05-14T08:07:34Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The Delivering On Government Efficiency in Spending Act (H.R. 4311) aims to increase transparency and accountability in federal spending by requiring detailed reporting on payments of federal funds. It also seeks to prevent improper payments—such as overpayments, fraud, or errors—by expanding access to certain government databases for verification purposes, while including protections for sensitive information.

Key Provisions

• Mandatory Reporting of Payment Details (New Section 3337 in 31 U.S.C. Chapter 33):
• Federal agencies (including executive branches, regulatory bodies, Congress, courts, territories, and the District of Columbia if using Treasury systems) must submit specific information for each payment processed through Treasury systems: a brief purpose description, the funding account (e.g., Treasury Account Symbol), and the activity type (e.g., Business Event Type Code).
• Agencies must annually review and confirm the accuracy of this information in writing, and consult with Treasury to improve the system.
• Within 30 days of certification, the data must be publicly posted on the website established under the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (unless handled by a non-Treasury official, in which case the relevant agency posts it).
• Exemptions apply to "sensitive operations" (e.g., law enforcement or national security activities where disclosure could cause harm, violate laws, reveal classified info, or fall under Freedom of Information Act exemptions); agencies must verify this to Treasury.
• Agencies must report aggregated details of exempted payments in their annual budget justifications (in unclassified or classified annexes as needed).
• Treasury may issue regulations or guidance; no legal liability is imposed on payment officials for compliance actions.

• Enhanced Data Access for Preventing Improper Payments:
• National Directory of New Hires (Amendment to Social Security Act Section 453(j)): Treasury gains access to this database (which tracks new hires and wage reports) to identify and recover improper payments. Treasury can share this data with its agents, contractors, other authorized federal/non-federal agencies, and agreed-upon entities.
• Bank Account Verification (Amendment to 31 U.S.C. Section 3325): Before approving payments, agencies must verify recipient bank details and cross-check against other records to ensure accuracy. Treasury (or approved agencies) can provide guidance.
• Consumer Credit Reports (Amendments to Fair Credit Reporting Act Sections 603 and 604): Changes to federal payments based on credit reports (e.g., stopping inaccurate disbursements) are not considered "adverse actions" (negative credit decisions). Treasury can use credit reports to prevent improper payments and share them with agents, contractors, and authorized entities.
• Tax Information Sharing (Amendment to Internal Revenue Code Section 6103(i)): IRS must provide Treasury, upon request, with privacy-protected tax data for specific individuals (e.g., taxpayer ID, filing status, adjusted gross income, bank details, identity theft flags) covering at least the last 3 tax years. This enhances the "Do Not Pay" system (a federal tool to check payments). Data can be shared with Treasury agents, other federal agencies, and state agencies managing federal programs.
• Social Security Data Sharing (New Section 235 in Social Security Act Title II): Social Security Administration must share personal details (name, date of birth, Social Security number) with Treasury via agreement, solely to support the Do Not Pay system in preventing improper payments.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Introduces a new mandatory reporting requirement (Section 3337) in federal disbursement laws, building on but expanding the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act by requiring purpose and account details for all payments (with exemptions).
• Broadens Treasury's access to databases like the National Directory of New Hires, tax records, Social Security info, and credit reports, which were previously more restricted. For example:
• Tax data sharing under Section 6103 now explicitly supports the Do Not Pay system with specific fields and privacy safeguards.
• Fair Credit Reporting Act exclusions prevent routine payment verifications from triggering credit protections.
• Bank verification in Section 3325 shifts from executive-branch focus to all agencies and adds proactive checks.
• Applies to disclosures after enactment for tax-related changes; other provisions take effect upon passage.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Increases administrative workload for reporting, verification, and data sharing, but improves efficiency in detecting fraud (e.g., via Do Not Pay enhancements). Could reduce improper payments, estimated at billions annually, saving taxpayer funds. Treasury and agencies like IRS and SSA must develop systems and agreements for compliance.
• On Citizens: Recipients of federal benefits or payments (e.g., Social Security, tax refunds, grants) may face more rigorous checks on bank details and eligibility, potentially delaying payments but reducing errors or fraud. Public transparency could build trust in government spending, though privacy-protected data limits personal exposure.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic federal payments and data systems; no provisions affect foreign aid or international entities.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Federal Agencies: All payment-authorizing bodies (e.g., executive departments, Congress, courts) must report and verify; Treasury, OMB, IRS, and SSA handle expanded data roles.
• Payment Recipients: Individuals, businesses, states, and contractors receiving federal funds, who may undergo more verification.
• Oversight Bodies: Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, Ways and Means, and Financial Services (as referred in the bill).
• Vendors and Contractors: Those involved in payment processing or Do Not Pay system access, including private entities handling data.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens anti-fraud tools under existing frameworks like Do Not Pay (31 U.S.C. Section 3354) without creating new liabilities for officials. Exemptions for sensitive operations align with classification laws and FOIA (5 U.S.C. Section 552), balancing transparency with security. Privacy is preserved through "privacy-preserving" methods for tax data and limited redisclosure.
• Constitutional: No apparent conflicts; enhances Article I spending powers by promoting accountability without infringing on due process (verifications are administrative, not punitive). Data sharing respects Fourth Amendment privacy via targeted, purpose-limited access.
• Political: Promotes fiscal responsibility and efficiency, appealing to efforts to curb waste (e.g., aligning with government reform agendas). Could spark debates on privacy vs. oversight, but exemptions mitigate national security concerns. As an introduced bill (July 10, 2025), it reflects bipartisan sponsorship but requires committee approval for advancement.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Bean, Aaron [R-FL-4]

Cosponsors (20)

Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17], Rep. Moore, Blake D. [R-UT-1], Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1], Rep. Moore, Tim [R-NC-14], Rep. Hinson, Ashley [R-IA-2], Rep. Franklin, Scott [R-FL-18], Rep. Hamadeh, Abraham J. [R-AZ-8], Rep. Onder, Robert F. [R-MO-3], Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7], Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2], Rep. Wied, Tony [R-WI-8], Rep. LaMalfa, Doug [R-CA-1], Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10], Rep. Kennedy, Mike [R-UT-3], Rep. Barr, Andy [R-KY-6], Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13], Rep. Smith, Adrian [R-NE-3], Rep. Cline, Ben [R-VA-6], Rep. Haridopolos, Mike [R-FL-8], Rep. Fry, Russell [R-SC-7]

Recent Actions

• 2025-07-10: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2025-07-10: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2025-07-10: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2025-07-10: Introduced in House
• 2025-07-10: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Delivering On Government Efficiency in Spending Act — issued 2025-07-10 — PDF (14 pages)

Related Bills

• S. 1991 (119th Congress)