Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 766
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Passed Senate
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-18: Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Hearings held.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-21T11:01:43Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation, titled the "Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act of 2025," aims to increase transparency and accountability for large-scale, taxpayer-funded government projects that are significantly delayed or over budget. It requires federal agencies to report on these projects annually, helping Congress and the public track how public funds are being spent.
Key Provisions
- Definitions:
- Covered agencies: Includes executive branch agencies (like departments such as Defense or Transportation) and independent regulatory agencies (like the Federal Trade Commission or Environmental Protection Agency).
- Covered projects: Taxpayer-funded initiatives that are either more than 5 years behind their original completion schedule or at least $1 billion over their original cost estimate. Projects include major purchases, defense programs, procurements (buying goods/services), construction, cleanup efforts, or other time-limited activities, but exclude direct spending programs (ongoing entitlements like Social Security).
- Director: Refers to the head of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), a White House office that oversees federal budgeting.
- Reporting Requirements:
- Within one year of the law's enactment, the OMB Director must issue guidance for covered agencies to submit annual information on each covered project.
- Submitted details must include:
- A brief description: Purpose, locations, contract numbers (if applicable), start year, federal funding share, and key contractors, subcontractors, or grant recipients.
- Changes to the original project scope (e.g., added or reduced requirements).
- Original and current expected completion dates.
- Original and current cost estimates, adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Price Index (a measure of price changes for everyday goods, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics).
- Explanations for delays or cost overruns, including effects from funding shortfalls or delays in Congress approving budgets.
- Details on any bonuses, incentive fees, or awards given for the project, including amounts and reasons.
- Annual Report to Congress:
- The OMB Director must compile the submitted information into an annual report and send it to Congress.
- The report must also be posted publicly on the OMB website.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This act introduces a new mandatory reporting system, as no prior federal law specifically requires annual, centralized disclosures on delayed or over-budget projects meeting these thresholds. It builds on existing budgeting oversight (e.g., under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act) by adding detailed, inflation-adjusted tracking and public reporting, without altering core funding mechanisms.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Covered agencies will face an added administrative burden to track and report project details, potentially encouraging better project management to avoid inclusion in reports. OMB will need resources to issue guidance, compile data, and maintain the public website.
- On Citizens: Increases public access to information about how billions in taxpayer dollars are spent on troubled projects, fostering greater awareness and possible demands for efficiency.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it could indirectly affect U.S. credibility in international projects (e.g., defense or aid initiatives) by highlighting delays or overruns.
- Overall, it may lead to improved fiscal oversight, reduced waste, and more informed congressional decisions on future funding, but could slow project approvals if agencies prioritize avoiding scrutiny.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: Executive and independent regulatory bodies managing large projects, who must comply with reporting.
- Office of Management and Budget (OMB): Responsible for guiding agencies, compiling, and publishing reports.
- Congress: Receives reports to inform oversight, budgeting, and potential investigations or reforms.
- Taxpayers and the Public: Gain transparency into government spending inefficiencies.
- Contractors, Subcontractors, and Grant Recipients: Their roles and any bonuses will be disclosed, potentially affecting future bidding or reputations.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Establishes enforceable reporting obligations under OMB guidance, with no new penalties specified for non-compliance, but could tie into broader accountability laws (e.g., for contract management). Costs are adjusted for inflation to ensure fair comparisons over time.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's power of the purse (Article I, Section 9) to oversee federal spending, without infringing on executive branch operations.
- Political: Promotes fiscal responsibility by spotlighting "boondoggles" (inefficient projects), which could appeal to efforts to curb government waste. It may spark debates on project selection or funding priorities but avoids partisan mandates, focusing on neutral data collection. No major controversies anticipated, as it emphasizes transparency over punishment.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (4)
Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH], Sen. Moody, Ashley [R-FL], Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV], Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-18: Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Hearings held.
- 2025-12-15: Held at the desk.
- 2025-12-15: Received in the House.
- 2025-12-15: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- 2025-12-11: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8693-8694; text: CR S8693-8694)
- 2025-12-11: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- 2025-11-03: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 254.
- 2025-11-03: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Paul without amendment. Without written report.
- 2025-11-03: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Paul without amendment. Without written report.
- 2025-07-30: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- 2025-02-27: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- 2025-02-27: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act of 2025 — issued 2025-12-11 — PDF (6 pages)
- Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act of 2025 — issued 2025-02-27 — PDF (5 pages)
- Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act of 2025 — issued 2025-11-03 — PDF (6 pages)