The Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025 increases transparency in federal spending by requiring the reporting of "other transaction agreements" and ensuring data accuracy on USAspending.gov.
Barry Moore
Representative
AL-1
The Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025 aims to increase transparency in federal spending by requiring the reporting of "other transaction agreements" and ensuring data is accessible on USAspending.gov. It mandates annual reports on federal spending data that has not been posted, along with reasons for non-disclosure. The Act also directs Inspectors General to submit reports to Congress, mandates specific federal agencies to post information about federal funding, and requires the Comptroller General to recommend updates to the Federal Acquisition Regulation.
Stop Secret Spending Act Aims to Put Billions in Federal 'Other Transaction' Deals on Public Record
The Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025 takes aim at a less visible corner of federal spending: 'other transaction agreements' or OTAs. In simple terms, the bill mandates that details about these flexible contracts, often used by agencies like the Department of Defense for research and prototyping, must be publicly reported on the central USAspending.gov website. The core purpose is to bring potentially billions of dollars in government spending out of the shadows and into the public domain.
Shining a Light on 'Other Transactions'
So, what exactly are OTAs? Think of them as government agreements that operate outside some of the standard, more rigid federal contracting rules. They're designed to be faster and more flexible, making them popular for cutting-edge research, development, and prototype projects. The catch, historically, has been a lack of consistent public reporting compared to traditional contracts. This bill seeks to change that by amending the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (FFATA) specifically to include OTAs. For anyone trying to track taxpayer dollars—whether you're a citizen, a journalist, or a policy wonk—this means potentially getting a much clearer view of where money is flowing, especially in tech and defense sectors.
Getting the Data Online: Deadlines and Accountability
The bill sets a clear timeline: Section 2 requires the Secretary of the Treasury to ensure OTA data is automatically transmitted to and accessible on USAspending.gov within three years of the Act's passage. It's not just a 'set it and forget it' mandate, either. Starting one year after enactment, Treasury must publish an annual report detailing any federal award spending not posted online and the reasons why (like national security classifications). If Treasury misses the one-year mark for getting OTA data integrated, agencies must publish a list of their OTAs for the previous year. Miss the two-year mark, and Treasury owes Congress a detailed plan on how they'll hit the final three-year deadline.
Beefing Up the Rules: Agency Responsibility and Oversight
Section 3 introduces several measures to ensure compliance and data quality. It makes the head of each federal agency directly responsible for the completeness and accuracy of the data they submit. Treasury and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) are given the authority to verify this data. Furthermore, Inspectors General (the internal agency watchdogs) at key agencies will be required to submit reports to Congress on data quality, starting one year after enactment and then every two years for the following decade. Treasury and OMB will also formally designate which agencies and components must comply, ensuring clarity on who needs to report. Finally, Section 4 directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to recommend updates within one year to the main federal contracting rules (the Federal Acquisition Regulation) to align them with these enhanced transparency requirements. Essentially, the bill aims to create a system with clear responsibility, regular checks, and updated rules to make sure this spending information actually becomes public and reliable.