Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act of 2025
Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Summary: Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act of 2025 **What It Does** This bill requires federal agencies to report to Congress about government projects that have gone significantly over budget or behind schedule. Specifically, agencies must report annually on projects that are either more than five years delayed or have cost overruns of at least $1 billion. The reports would include project descriptions, reasons for delays or cost increases, original versus current timelines and budgets, and changes to what the project was supposed to accomplish. **Who It Affects and Why** The bill primarily affects federal agencies that manage large-scale projects (like infrastructure, defense, or research programs) and Congress, which would receive these reports for oversight purposes.
Taxpayers are the ultimate focus, as the legislation aims to increase transparency about how government money is spent on major projects that haven't gone as planned. **Current Status** The bill has passed the Senate and is now awaiting consideration in the House. It's sponsored by Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) and is focused on government accountability and transparency rather than partisan policy changes.
CRS Official Summary
Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act of 2025This bill requires the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to collect information from federal agencies and report to Congress regarding projects that are behind schedule or have expenditures that have exceeded the original cost estimate. Specifically, the bill requires OMB to issue guidance directing federal agencies to annually submit specified information to OMB regarding certain federally funded projects that (1) are more than five years behind schedule, or (2) have expenditures that are at least $1 billion more than the original cost estimate for the project. Among other information, the agencies must submit to OMBa description of each project;an explanation of any change to the original scope of the project;the original and current expected dates for the completion of the project;the original and current cost estimates adjusted for inflation; an explanation for any delays in completing the project or increases in the cost; andthe amount of and rationale for any award, incentive fee, or other type of bonus awarded for the project.The bill also requires OMB to submit an annual report to Congress containing the information submitted by the agencies and post the report on the OMB website.
Latest Action
Held at the desk.