Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act
Latest Action
Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 467.
Official Summary
Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act of 2025 This 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 OMB a 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.
GovScope Watchdog™
AI Government Intelligence™The Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act of 2025 mandates the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to collect detailed information from federal agencies on federally funded projects that are significantly delayed (more than five years behind schedule) or have cost overruns exceeding $1 billion beyond original estimates. Agencies must annually report project descriptions, scope changes, timeline adjustments, cost estimates with inflation adjustments, explanations for delays or cost increases, and details on any bonuses or incentives awarded. OMB is then required to compile this data into an annual report submitted to Congress and made publicly available on its website. The bill aims to increase transparency and oversight of large federal projects with substantial delays or cost overruns.
This bill establishes a formal process for tracking and reporting on major federal projects that experience significant delays or cost overruns, enhancing congressional and public oversight.
- Requires federal agencies to submit annual detailed reports on projects delayed by over five years or exceeding original costs by $1 billion or more.
- Mandates OMB to issue guidance for data collection and to compile an annual report for Congress and public release.
- Reports must include project descriptions, scope changes, timeline and cost updates, explanations for delays or overruns, and information on any awarded bonuses or incentives.
['Congress, by receiving detailed oversight information on large federal projects', 'OMB, through standardized data collection and reporting processes', 'Federal agencies, by having clear reporting requirements', 'The public, via increased transparency on costly or delayed government projects']
['Implementation challenges related to consistent and accurate data collection across diverse federal agencies', 'Potential administrative burden on agencies to compile and submit detailed reports annually', 'Costs associated with OMB’s processing, analysis, and publication of the annual report', 'Limitations in enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance by agencies', 'The bill text does not specify consequences for noncompliance or verification procedures for reported data']
The bill was introduced in the House during the 119th Congress and has been received and placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar. It addresses ongoing concerns about federal project management, cost overruns, and delays, fitting within the broader policy area of Government Operations and Politics. The bill reflects legislative interest in enhancing transparency and accountability for large federal expenditures.
Hidden impact flags detected: 2
GovScope reviewed 2 policy-risk categories. Hover for a quick definition. Click detected flags for bill-specific details.
['Improved data on project delays and cost overruns may lead to better-informed congressional budget and oversight decisions.', 'Public availability of reports could increase external scrutiny of federal project management practices.', 'Standardized reporting may encourage agencies to more carefully manage project timelines and budgets to avoid negative reporting.']
The bill enhances transparency by requiring detailed annual reporting on large federal projects with significant delays or cost overruns, supporting congressional and public oversight. However, the absence of specified enforcement mechanisms or verification processes may limit the effectiveness of the reporting requirements. Additionally, the administrative burden on agencies to compile and submit comprehensive data annually should be monitored to ensure feasibility and accuracy.
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