February 27, 2025
Ms. Ernst introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
To require an annual report of taxpayer-funded projects that are over budget and behind schedule.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Annual report
(a) Definitions
In this section—
(1)
the term covered agency means—
(A)
an Executive agency, as defined in section 105 of title 5, United States Code; and
(B)
an independent regulatory agency, as defined in section 3502 of title 44, United States Code;
(2)
the term covered project means a project funded by a covered agency—
(A)
that is more than 5 years behind schedule, as measured against the original expected date for completion; or
(B)
for which the amount spent on the project is not less than $1,000,000,000 more than the original cost estimate for the project;
(3)
the term Director means the Director of the Office of Management and Budget; and
(4)
the term project means a major acquisition, a major defense acquisition program (as defined in section 4201 of title 10, United States Code), a procurement, a construction project, a remediation or clean-up effort, or any other time-limited endeavor, that is not funded through direct spending (as defined in section 250(c) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 900(c))).
(b) Requirements
(1) Submission
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall issue guidance requiring covered agencies to, on an annual basis, submit to the Director information relating to each covered project of the covered agency, which shall include—
(A)
a brief description of the covered project, including—
(i)
the purpose of the covered project;
(ii)
each location in which the covered project is carried out;
(iii)
the contract or award number of the covered project, where applicable;
(iv)
the year in which the covered project was initiated;
(v)
the Federal share of the total cost of the covered project; and
(vi)
each primary contractor, subcontractor, grant recipient, and subgrantee recipient of the covered project;
(B)
an explanation of any change to the original scope of the covered project, including by the addition or narrowing of the initial requirements of the covered project;
(C)
the original expected date for completion of the covered project;
(D)
the current expected date for completion of the covered project;
(E)
the original cost estimate for the covered project, as adjusted to reflect increases in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics;
(F)
the current cost estimate for the covered project, as adjusted to reflect increases in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics;
(G)
an explanation for a delay in completion or an increase in the original cost estimate for the covered project, including, where applicable, any impact of insufficient or delayed appropriations; and
(H)
the amount of and rationale for any award, incentive fee, or other type of bonus, if any, awarded for the covered project.
(2) Report
The Director shall submit to Congress and post on the website of the Office of Management and Budget an annual report containing the information submitted under paragraph (1) for the relevant year.