Josh Hawley (R-MO)
Special Inspector General for Program Fraud Act
A Republican bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill establishes the Office of the Special Inspector General for Program Fraud. The office is tasked with providing independent oversight, audits, and investigations into programs funded for child assistance in the United States. It aims to detect and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse within these specific programs. The Special Inspector General will lead this effort and report to various federal agency heads and Congress. The office is intended to ensure that federal agencies are informed about deficiencies and necessary corrective actions. This office is scheduled to terminate on September 30, 2027.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +3
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill mandates quarterly reports on expenditures to be published on a public website.
- Scored +2
Would children be better off under this?
The bill protects the integrity of funds intended for child assistance programs.
- Scored +2
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?
The creation of an oversight office promotes the responsible use of federal funds for child assistance.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Oversight of Child Assistance Funds: The bill creates a system for independent and objective audits and investigations regarding programs that fund child assistance, such as child care or nutrition (Section 2(a)(1), Section 2(l)(2)). This could help ensure funds are used as intended.
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Prevention of Waste and Fraud: By establishing leadership to coordinate policies to prevent and detect waste, fraud, and abuse, the bill aims to protect the integrity of child assistance programs (Section 2(a)(2)).
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Accountability for Federal Employees and Contractors: The duties include investigating potential unethical or illegal actions by Federal employees, contractors, or affiliated entities, with a focus on addressing issues like overpayments or duplicate billing (Section 2(f)(1)(E)).
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Transparency of Program Spending: The Inspector General is required to submit quarterly reports that include detailed statements of obligations, expenditures, and revenues, which must be published on a public website (Section 2(i)(1), Section 2(i)(3)). This allows the public to see how funds are being used.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Temporary Nature of Oversight: The Office of the Special Inspector General for Program Fraud is scheduled to terminate on September 30, 2027, which may mean that the oversight of these programs is not permanent (Section 2(n)(1)).
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Potential for Restricted Information Disclosure: While reports are meant to be public, the bill notes that information may not be disclosed if it is specifically prohibited by other laws or is part of an ongoing criminal investigation (Section 2(i)(4)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates quarterly reports on expenditures to be published on a public website. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill establishes a new federal office with specific oversight and investigative powers.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would children be better off under this? — The bill protects the integrity of funds intended for child assistance programs. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Ensuring child assistance programs are free from fraud helps protect these households.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — The creation of an oversight office promotes the responsible use of federal funds for child assistance. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill aims to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse in child assistance programs through increased oversight.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make child care cost less? — By preventing fraud and waste, the bill helps ensure funds remain available for child assistance programs.
- 8/7/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/14/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Introduced in Senate
David McCormickRepublican · Pennsylvania