Terminate Unaccountable Spending, Abuse, Deception, and Fraud Act
- Bill Number
- S. 3748
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-01-29: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-20T11:23:22Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation, titled the "Terminate Unaccountable Spending, Abuse, Deception, and Fraud Act," aims to eliminate the United States African Development Foundation (USADF), a federal agency that supports community-driven development projects in Africa through grants and technical assistance.
Key Provisions
- Repeal of Establishing Law: Fully repeals the African Development Foundation Act (part of Public Law 96-533, codified at 22 U.S.C. 290h et seq.), which created and authorized the USADF.
- Conforming Amendments: Updates three related laws to remove references to the USADF:
- Amends Section 127(b) of the Trade and Development Act of 2000 (19 U.S.C. 3737(b)) by deleting a paragraph that mentions the USADF.
- Amends Section 620(q)(2) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2370(q)(2)) by striking the phrase "the African Development Foundation Act."
- Amends Section 4(8) of the Global Food Security Act of 2016 (22 U.S.C. 9303(8)) by removing "the United States African Development Foundation" from the list of relevant entities.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This bill introduces the complete dissolution of the USADF by repealing its foundational statute, which has been in place since 1980. It also cleans up cross-references in broader foreign aid and trade laws, ensuring no lingering legal ties to the now-defunct agency. Previously, the USADF operated independently to fund grassroots economic growth in Africa, but this change would end that authority without establishing any replacement mechanism.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The USADF, which receives annual congressional appropriations (typically around $30 million), would cease operations, leading to the redistribution or elimination of its budget. This could streamline federal spending but require the State Department or USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development) to absorb or redirect any ongoing responsibilities.
- On Citizens: U.S. taxpayers would see reduced foreign aid expenditures, potentially freeing up funds for domestic priorities, though it might limit indirect benefits like strengthened U.S. economic ties with African nations.
- On International Relations: African communities and organizations relying on USADF grants for agriculture, business, and infrastructure projects (reaching over 20 African countries) could face funding gaps, potentially straining U.S. soft power and development partnerships in the region.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Government Entities: Congress (as the funding authority), the USADF itself (employees and leadership facing job losses), and related agencies like USAID or the Department of State, which may need to adjust programs.
- African Beneficiaries: Grassroots organizations, small businesses, and rural communities in Africa that depend on USADF support for economic development.
- U.S. Taxpayers and Policymakers: Those advocating for reduced federal spending versus supporters of international aid.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The repeal is straightforward and relies on Congress's plenary power to create or dissolve federal agencies, with no apparent challenges to due process for existing contracts (though implementation details would need clarification in regulations).
- Constitutional: Aligns with Article I's appropriations clause, allowing Congress to end funding and authority for executive branch entities without executive branch consent.
- Political: Signals a push to curb perceived inefficiencies in foreign aid programs, potentially sparking debates on U.S. priorities in global development amid broader efforts to reduce non-essential spending; it was referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations for review.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-01-29: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- 2026-01-29: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Terminate Unaccountable Spending, Abuse, Deception, and Fraud Act — issued 2026-01-29 — PDF (2 pages)