To: Members of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
From: National Taxpayers Union
Date: August 6, 2026
Subject: NTU’s views on the August 6 Markup
I. Introduction
On behalf of National Taxpayers Union, the nation’s oldest taxpayer advocacy organization, we write to express our views on legislation slated for consideration before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on August 6, 2026. While NTU recognizes that the Committee is considering a broader package of legislative proposals, we would like to highlight several bills that warrant special attention. NTU applauds the Committee for your continued efforts to advance proposals that protect the interests of taxpayers, reform our bloated bureaucracy, and uphold free-market principles.
II. Legislation
S. 2732, the Bonuses for Cost-Cutters Act of 2025 - Support
Authored by Chairman Paul (R-KY), this legislation expands federal agency awards programs by empowering employees to recommend ways to eliminate waste and mismanagement, as well as identify unused budget authority and surplus funds. If a suggestion results in savings, the employee who developed the idea is awarded a cash bonus. Importantly, this legislation mandates that 90% of the realized savings be used for deficit reduction. By rewarding employees who identify measurable savings, this legislation encourages innovation, reduces wasteful spending, and promotes a culture of accountability across the federal bureaucracy. Instead of relying solely on top-down cuts, it empowers frontline workers—those most familiar with day-to-day operations—to find practical efficiencies. Even small improvements can generate significant long-term savings, ensuring the government delivers services more effectively while respecting taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars. NTU supports this legislation.
S. 2733, the Duplication Scoring Act of 2025 - Support
Authored by Chairman Paul (R-KY), this legislation would require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review every bill reported by a congressional committee to determine whether it would create a program that duplicates an existing federal initiative. While this legislation would not consolidate current duplicative programs, it represents an important step forward by giving Congress the necessary tools to avoid creating new overlapping initiatives. Over the last 15 years, GAO has released annual reports identifying opportunities to reduce “fragmentation, overlap, and duplication in federal programs.” These efforts have helped Congress and federal agencies save taxpayers over $700 million, including $60 million in 2024 alone. Nevertheless, the vast size of the federal government makes it difficult to identify all areas of duplication, and it is relatively easy for Congress to accidentally create new programs that duplicate ongoing efforts. This practical reform to the legislative process will invariably benefit taxpayers. NTU supports this legislation.
S. 252, the Guidance Out Of Darkness (GOOD) Act - Support
Authored by Sen. Johnson (R-WI), this legislation improves regulatory transparency by requiring federal agencies to publish guidance documents in a searchable online database. Regulatory agencies rely heavily on these documents to interpret and enforce laws passed by Congress. However, under current law, there is no standardized mechanism to publish these materials in a manner that makes them readily accessible to the public. This legislation would make it easier for citizens to understand the regulatory landscape and reduce compliance costs for businesses. NTU supports this legislation.
S. 164, the Midnight Rules Relief Act of 2025 - Support
Authored by Sen. Johnson (R-WI), this legislation would improve the Congressional Review Act (CRA) process by allowing multiple rules to be included in a single disapproval resolution. This would enable Congress to more efficiently overturn regulations while saving valuable floor time. Enacted in 1996, the CRA provides Congress with a mechanism to review and roll back executive branch regulations by voting on a joint resolution to nullify disapproved rules. While the CRA process currently allows only one rule to be considered per joint resolution, this legislation would enable Congress to include multiple rules issued during the final year of a president’s term in a single resolution. By streamlining the CRA process, this legislation enhances congressional oversight and makes it easier to repeal burdensome or unnecessary regulations. NTU supports this legislation.
S. 1735, the Permitting Transparency and Accountability Act - Support
Authored by Sen. Scott (R-FL), this legislation enhances government transparency by mandating federal agencies that issue permits to create publicly accessible web pages where applicants can track the status of their applications. The federal permitting process remains opaque and difficult to navigate. The resulting uncertainty can cause extended delays in getting projects approved and leads to increased compliance costs. By providing greater visibility into the various stages of the regulatory review process, this legislation gives economic actors the information they need to plan appropriately. This practical, good-government reform to the federal bureaucracy will be a boon for economic development and help restore public trust in government. NTU supports this legislation.
III. Conclusion
Should you have any questions about the recommendations in this memo, please do not hesitate to reach out to Alexander Ciccone (aciccone@ntu.org).