Pick Up After Your DOGE Act

Bill Number

S. 2533

Origin Chamber

Senate

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Government Operations and Politics

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-07-30: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Last Updated

2025-09-17T22:00:35Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The "Pick Up After Your DOGE Act" aims to enhance oversight and security of federal agency computer systems by requiring audits and accountability for accesses made by the United States DOGE Service (referring to the Department of Government Efficiency established under Executive Order 14158). It seeks to identify and address any security risks or software issues introduced during such accesses, promoting transparency and protection of sensitive government data.

Key Provisions Outlined

• Short Title and Definitions: The Act is titled the "Pick Up After Your DOGE Act." It defines "appropriate congressional committee" as any congressional committee with jurisdiction over the audited agency.
• DOGE Service Reporting (Section 3): Within 30 days of enactment, the Administrator of the United States DOGE Service must provide Congress and the Comptroller General (the head of the Government Accountability Office, an independent agency that audits federal operations) with a complete list of federal agencies where DOGE teams or affiliates accessed computer systems, networks, data, or information.
• Comptroller General Audits (Section 4):
• Audits must begin within 60 days of enactment, focusing on systems accessed by the DOGE Service, its temporary organization, employees, volunteers, or related agency DOGE teams to detect security vulnerabilities (weak points that could allow unauthorized access) or software bugs (errors in code).
• Priority is given to the Social Security Administration (handles retirement and disability benefits), Department of Health and Human Services (including Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which manage health programs), and Department of the Treasury (including Internal Revenue Service, which oversees taxes).
• Initial audit results for priority agencies, including recommendations for laws or administrative fixes, must be reported to Congress and agency heads within 1 year.
• Final audit results for other selected agencies (chosen by the Comptroller General in consultation with Congress) must be reported within 2 years, with similar recommendations.
• Agency Response Requirements: Within 90 days of receiving an audit report, agency heads must repair identified vulnerabilities or bugs and submit a status update to the relevant congressional committee.

Significant Changes to Existing Law Introduced

This legislation introduces new, targeted audit mandates specifically for activities under Executive Order 14158, which previously lacked such formal congressional oversight or mandatory post-access security reviews. It does not amend existing cybersecurity laws (like the Federal Information Security Modernization Act) but adds a layer of accountability for DOGE-related interventions, requiring rapid reporting and remediation that were not previously required for this executive initiative.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Agencies, especially those handling sensitive data (e.g., Social Security, health records, tax information), will face mandatory audits and fixes, potentially increasing operational costs and workload but improving system security. The DOGE Service must disclose accesses, which could limit its flexibility in efficiency reforms.
• On Citizens: Enhanced security could better protect personal data from breaches, reducing risks of identity theft or privacy violations in programs like Social Security benefits, Medicare, and tax filings. However, audit delays might temporarily slow agency reforms aimed at efficiency.
• On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic federal systems.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Federal Agencies: Primarily the Social Security Administration, Department of Health and Human Services (including Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services), Department of the Treasury (including Internal Revenue Service), and other agencies accessed by DOGE teams; they must implement fixes and report compliance.
• United States DOGE Service: Required to provide access logs, potentially facing scrutiny or restrictions on future activities.
• Congress: Gains detailed reports for oversight, enabling legislative or budgetary responses.
• Comptroller General and Government Accountability Office: Tasked with conducting and prioritizing audits.
• Citizens and Taxpayers: Indirectly affected through secured government services and potential efficiency trade-offs.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal Implications: Strengthens congressional oversight of executive actions under Executive Order 14158, potentially setting a precedent for auditing temporary or advisory government entities. It mandates actionable remedies (e.g., bug fixes), which could lead to legal challenges if agencies fail to comply.
• Constitutional Implications: Reinforces the separation of powers by empowering Congress and an independent auditor to check executive branch initiatives, aligning with Article I's legislative authority over federal operations without infringing on executive efficiency goals.
• Political Implications: Sponsored by Senators Whitehouse, Wyden, and Warren, the bill may reflect partisan concerns over the DOGE initiative's scope and security practices, promoting transparency in government reform efforts while avoiding direct confrontation with the executive. Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, it could influence broader debates on federal IT security and efficiency programs.

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

Sponsor

Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]

Cosponsors (2)

Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR], Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]

Recent Actions

• 2025-07-30: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
• 2025-07-30: Introduced in Senate

Bill Versions

• Pick Up After Your DOGE Act — issued 2025-07-30 — PDF (4 pages)