Miller-Meeks, Ernst Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act Signed Into Law
WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump has signed into law bipartisan legislation led by Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01) and Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) to increase transparency and accountability for taxpayer-funded projects that go over budget and fall behind schedule.
The Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act requires federal agencies to report to Congress on taxpayer-funded projects that exceed their original cost estimates or fall significantly behind schedule, giving Congress and the American people greater visibility into projects that are not meeting expectations.
“Washington has a spending problem, and taxpayers deserve accountability,” said Miller-Meeks. “I’m proud to see the bipartisan Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act I led with Senator Ernst signed into law. This law will bring greater transparency to federal projects that go over budget and fall behind schedule, giving Congress and the American people the information they need to hold Washington accountable. Taxpayers work too hard for their money to see it wasted, and they deserve to know it is being spent responsibly.”
"Washington math doesn't add up, but my Billion Dollar Boondoggle law will restore accountability to its shady accounting. Taxpayers deserve this transparency, and it will protect them from being put on the hook for hundreds of billions of dollars sunk into failed and mismanaged projects plagued by massive cost overruns and never-ending delays," said Sen. Ernst. "While government boondoggles abound, the term is now officially in the law books for the first time. No politician wants their prized pet project to carry that label, but now there's no escaping it."
“Granite Staters deserve to know that their hard-earned, tax-dollars are being spent responsibly,” said Senator Hassan (D-NH). “This commonsense, bipartisan bill will give the public greater visibility into how their tax dollars are being used and it will help Congress identify wasteful spending. I am pleased to see this bill signed into law and I will continue working with my colleagues of both parties to protect taxpayer dollars and increase government transparency.”
Background:
The Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act will require the Office of Management and Budget to compile and submit an annual report to Congress identifying qualifying taxpayer-funded projects and providing information about changes to their scope, cost estimates, and completion dates.
The House originally passed the bill in July 2026. In September it cleared the Senate and was sent to President Trump's desk to become law.
Congresswoman Miller-Meeks has been a leading voice in the fight against government waste, fraud, and abuse. She first introduced the Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act in the 118th Congress and reintroduced it in the 119th Congress alongside Senator Ernst.
To read the full bill text, click HERE.
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