Congress Demands Weekly Reports on DOGE’s Office Closures and Staff Cuts Starting Next Week

The newly proposed DOGE Accountability and Transparency Act is Congress’s way of hitting the pause button on the executive branch’s latest efficiency drive. This bill is a direct response to the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Service, which was formed in January 2025 and has apparently been making some chaotic moves—think mass staff reductions (RIFs) and office closures—that Congress says are hurting public service.

Why Congress Is Watching DOGE Like a Hawk

Congress is basically flexing its oversight muscles here. The findings section of the bill makes it clear that lawmakers believe the DOGE Service has been acting illogically and chaotically, making big cuts without formal evaluations. They worry these changes are based on "personal grudges" or helping out "well-connected people," rather than actual data. This bill asserts that if DOGE is going to reorganize the government, those actions must be transparent and tied to clear legal authority, not just arbitrary decisions that leave federal employees and the public confused.

The Weekly Homework Assignment: What DOGE Has to Report

The core of this legislation is Section 3, which mandates weekly reporting from DOGE to Congress. This is not a casual check-in; it’s a massive administrative lift. Within one week of the bill becoming law, and every week thereafter, the head of DOGE must send a detailed report covering every single action taken regarding federal agencies.

This report must include specifics like: the legal basis for every change; exact numbers on staffing changes (quits, firings, eliminations); detailed descriptions of policy changes; measures taken to save money; and any physical changes, like moving an office building. If you are a federal employee whose job is currently under review, this reporting requirement means your situation will be under a much brighter spotlight, potentially slowing down hasty decisions but also introducing an element of political scrutiny to the process.

The Data Access Deep Dive

Perhaps the most significant transparency requirement for the average citizen concerns data access. If DOGE accessed any federal agency data, the weekly report must specify who accessed it (down to the individual), why they accessed it, and what they did with the information. This is a crucial check on power, especially in an era where data privacy is paramount. For example, if DOGE accesses IRS data to analyze efficiency, that action, the person who did it, and the reason must be logged and reported to Congress. This provision aims to protect against the perception that DOGE might be using its efficiency mandate to pry into sensitive citizen information without proper justification.

The Real-World Friction

While this bill promises necessary accountability—ensuring that government efficiency isn't just code for arbitrary cost-cutting—it also creates a massive administrative burden. The sheer volume and frequency of weekly reporting required by Section 3 could force the DOGE Service to dedicate significant resources just to compliance. This raises the question of whether Congress is genuinely seeking transparency or if this high-frequency reporting requirement is designed to slow down or even paralyze the new department’s operations. Either way, for busy people, this bill means that the next time a government office closes or a service changes, Congress will have the detailed paperwork to explain exactly who made the decision and why.