H.R.1722 - Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.1722, the "Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act of 2025," mandates an annual report on taxpayer-funded projects that exceed budget and schedule. The bill requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to issue guidance for covered agencies to submit information on such projects. This information includes project descriptions, cost estimates, completion dates, and explanations for delays or cost increases. The Director must then submit an annual report to Congress and post it on the OMB website.
Expected Effects
The bill aims to increase transparency and accountability in government spending. By requiring detailed reporting on over-budget and behind-schedule projects, it seeks to identify inefficiencies and potentially deter future mismanagement. This could lead to better oversight and more responsible use of taxpayer dollars.
Potential Benefits
- Increased transparency in government spending.
- Improved accountability for project management.
- Potential for identifying and correcting inefficiencies.
- Better informed decision-making by Congress and the public.
- Possible deterrence of wasteful spending.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Increased administrative burden on government agencies.
- Potential for political misuse of the reported data.
- Risk of focusing solely on cost and schedule, neglecting project quality or other important factors.
- Possible chilling effect on innovation due to fear of scrutiny.
- The report itself may incur costs, offsetting some savings.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill aligns with the principle of government transparency and accountability, which is implicit in the Constitution's allocation of legislative power to Congress (Article I, Section 1). Congress has the power of the purse, and this bill aims to provide them with better information to exercise that power responsibly. There are no apparent conflicts with specific constitutional provisions.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).