DOGE Republicans move to codify protections against fraudulent payments
The article discusses a legislative initiative led by the congressional Delivering On Government Efficiency Caucus, which aims to introduce the Delivering On Government Efficiency in Spending Act. This bill, sponsored by Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Mike Lee (R-UT), along with rep. Aaron Bean (R-FL), seeks to enhance the accountability and transparency of federal payments by enacting reforms that require the Treasury Department to provide detailed details for payments made.
Key provisions of the bill include the necessity for the Treasury to describe each payment, specify the appropriations account involved, ensure payments are reported on USAspending.gov, and submit annual updates on ongoing payments. Supporters believe that implementing these measures could save taxpayers billions by curbing improper payments, which were estimated to cost approximately $162 billion in fiscal 2024 alone. Ernst emphasizes the importance of these reforms to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in government spending, framing it as a critical response to the nation’s $36 trillion debt. The article provides insights into the motivations behind the bill and the expected impact on federal expenditure.
Congressional DOGE Republicans move to codify protections against fraudulent payments
The congressional Delivering On Government Efficiency Caucus heads introduced a bill to codify one of the Department of Government Efficiency‘s possibly biggest cost-saving measures.
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Rep. Aaron Bean (R-FL) introduced the Delivering On Government Efficiency in Spending Act, which would codify reforms by the DOGE, forcing the Treasury Department to implement a new system providing more information for payments.
The new system would require the Treasury to include a brief description of the payment, the appropriations account from which the payment is to be drawn, the payment to be reported on USAspending.gov, and an annual update on all information related to ongoing payments.
“Requiring government to answer basic questions before spending tax dollars will save billions over the next decade,” Ernst said. “Enacting safeguards to spending has been one of the Trump administration’s and DOGE’s greatest triumphs, and I am determined to codify it and make it permanent. At $36 trillion in debt, the cost of inaction is too high, and I will continue to lead the fight in Washington to root out waste, fraud, and abuse.”
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) was one of several co-sponsors.
“The federal government must be held accountable for every tax dollar spent,” Lee said. “The DOGE In Spending Act will codify part of President Trump’s fiscal plan by ensuring payments are properly reported and tracked. Increasing transparency, cutting waste, and preventing fraud are what hardworking American families deserve.”
The bill intends to halt improper payments, which 16 federal agencies reported cost an estimated $162 billion in fiscal 2024.
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Ernst released an explainer on the reforms to the Treasury’s Do Not Pay system.
“By requiring agencies to give Treasury’s Do Not Pay (DNP) system relevant data before issuing payments, requiring Treasury to code and attach each payment to the relevant appropriations account, and granting Treasury the ability to ping databases at other agencies and available in the private sector to ensure accuracy and eligibility for each payment, we will, for the first time, have a federal payment system equipped with the necessary tools to all but entirely eliminate improper payments and fraud on the front end, and go after any fraudsters who might still slip through the cracks,” the explainer reads.
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