H.R. 1722 — Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act of 2025, as amended
Executive Summary
H.R. 1722, the 'Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act,' mandates strict transparency for massive federal project failures. It requires the OMB Director to issue guidance compelling federal agencies to report annually on projects that are either more than five years behind schedule or $1 billion over their original budget. By forcing public disclosure of these 'boondoggles'—including contractor details, scope changes, and any bonuses paid despite failures—the bill aims to name and shame agencies and contractors into better fiscal management and provide Congress with actionable oversight data.
Arguments For
- Good Government/Transparency Win: Highly marketable to constituents as a common-sense measure to crack down on government waste and 'boondoggles.'
- Oversight Ammo: Provides congressional committees (especially Oversight and Armed Services) with a centralized, standardized list of the worst-performing federal contracts to target in hearings.
- Contractor Accountability: Exposes contractors receiving bonuses despite massive delays and cost overruns, creating pressure to reform federal procurement and contracting practices.
Likely Supporters
Arguments Against
- Administrative Burden: Agencies and OMB may argue this creates duplicative reporting requirements, as major defense acquisition programs (MDAPs) already have extensive reporting (e.g., Nunn-McCurdy breaches).
- Inflation/Appropriations Blame Game: The bill requires adjusting for CPI and explaining if delayed appropriations caused the overrun, which agencies will likely use to deflect blame back onto Congress or macroeconomic factors rather than mismanagement.
Likely Opponents
📋 Key Provisions
- Defines a 'covered project' as any federal project that is more than 5 years behind schedule or at least $1 billion over its original cost estimate.
- Requires the OMB Director to issue guidance within one year for agencies to submit annual reports on these covered projects.
- Mandates the disclosure of specific project details, including primary contractors, scope changes, and original versus current cost estimates adjusted for inflation (CPI).
- Requires agencies to explain the reasons for delays or cost increases, specifically noting if insufficient or delayed congressional appropriations played a role.
- Forces the disclosure of the amount and rationale for any awards, incentive fees, or bonuses given for the covered project.
- Directs OMB to submit an annual unclassified report to Congress and publish it publicly on the OMB website.
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Verification Guide
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Defines a covered project as being over 5 years behind schedule or $1 billion over budget.
"more than 5 years behind"
Requires reporting of any bonuses or incentive fees awarded for the delayed or over-budget project.
"award, incentive fee, or other type of bonus"
Mandates the OMB Director to post the annual report publicly on their website.
"post on the website of the Office of"