I. Introduction and Key Taxpayer Considerations
On behalf of National Taxpayers Union (NTU), the nation’s oldest taxpayer advocacy organization, we write to express our views on several measures slated for consideration before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on March 18, 2026. NTU applauds the Committee for its continued efforts to advance legislation that improves government efficiency, enhances transparency, and protects taxpayers from wasteful spending. The bills before you make a meaningful effort to strengthen transparency with federal spending, which we believe is a necessary step towards reining in our out-of-control spending. As such, NTU strongly urges Committee members to support H.R. 428, H.R. 1722, H.R. 2069, H.R. 4642, and the SAID Act.
II. Legislation NTU Supports at March 18 Markup
H.R. 428, Bonuses for Cost-Cutters Act – Support. This legislation, introduced by Rep. Fleischmann (R-TN), expands federal agency awards programs by empowering employees to recommend ways to not only eliminate waste and mismanagement, but also to disclose unused budget authority and surplus funds. Should a given suggestion result in savings, the worker who developed the idea is awarded a small portion of the funds (1%, or $10,000, whichever is less), providing an increased incentive for stewardship. By offering bonuses to employees who identify measurable savings, the Act encourages innovation, reduces wasteful spending, and promotes a culture of accountability across agencies. 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.
H.R. 1722, the Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act – Support. This bipartisan legislation, authored by Reps. Miller-Meeks (R-IA) and Ansari (D-AZ), is a common sense transparency measure to help safeguard taxpayer dollars from waste and fraud. Specifically, it would require federal agencies to report on all projects that are $1 billion over budget, five years behind schedule, or both. This kind of transparency and straightforward reporting is essential for both lawmakers and taxpayers to figure out what federal projects are working and what projects are not. This bill has previously been included on NTU’s “No-Brainers” list because it bridges the partisan divide for the betterment of taxpayers.
H.R. 2069, the Stop Secret Spending Act – Support. This bipartisan legislation, authored by Reps. Moore (R-AL), Panetta (D-CA), Goodlander (D-NH), and Hageman (R-WY), is a common sense transparency measure to stop wasteful spending. Specifically, it would require federal agencies to include other transaction agreements (OTAs) in the list of federal awards that must be reported on USAspending.gov—which now totals more than $40 billion worth of taxpayer dollars. Currently, this loophole shields the reporting of this fund, thereby blocking the ability of public watchdogs to scrutinize federal funding. This bill has previously been included on NTU’s “No-Brainers” list because it bridges the partisan divide for the betterment of taxpayers.
H.R. 4642, the Fiscal Contingency Preparedness Act – Support. This bipartisan legislation, authored by Rep. Cline (R-VA), ensures the federal government regularly assesses and reports its fiscal readiness to respond to national emergencies such as natural disasters, energy crises, and threats to national security. With our federal debt skyrocketing and deficits nearing $2 trillion annually, this legislation offers a proactive approach to getting policymakers to look beyond short-term political time horizons and to consider the government’s long-term fiscal position under worst-case scenarios. Specifically, it directs the Executive Branch to produce annual reports that evaluate the financial risks associated with the federal government facing unexpected fiscal pressures. Importantly, this legislation requires the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office to review these assessments and share its findings with the public.
Settlement Agreement Information Database (SAID) Act – Support. This bipartisan legislation, authored by Reps. Palmer (R-AL) and Mfume (D-MD), brings much-needed transparency to taxpayer-funded settlement agreements and consent decrees. Specifically, it improves transparency by requiring federal agencies to report information on settlement agreements and consent decrees to a searchable, publicly accessible database for watchdog monitoring. While more reforms are needed to address other problems with settlement agreements, particularly with payments to politically favored third parties without congressional oversight, the SAID Act is a good step in the right direction.
III. Contact Information
Should you have any questions about the recommendations in this memo, please do not hesitate to reach out to Thomas Aiello at taiello@ntu.org.