TRUE Accountability Act (H.R. 8466)

Summary

Makes government agencies create plans ahead of time to stop waste and fraud when spending money during emergencies like disasters or pandemics.

What problem does this solve?

During emergencies, the government often spends money quickly without good controls, leading to waste and fraud. This bill requires agencies to create detailed plans in advance to manage emergency funds, track spending, and prevent improper payments.

What does this bill do?

Requires OMB to issue guidance for emergency spending plans

Directs the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to create and update guidance for all major federal agencies on how to develop internal control plans for emergency spending.

Mandates agency plans to fight fraud

Requires each agency to create a plan that identifies a senior official in charge, assesses risks, and includes strategies to prevent fraud and bad payments before money is spent.

Sets deadlines for plan submission and review

Agencies must submit their first plan within one year. They must then review and update these plans at least every three years.

Provides no additional funding

Specifies that no extra funds are authorized to be appropriated for agencies to carry out the requirements of creating and maintaining these new emergency spending plans.

Who does this affect?

Federal agencies
U.S. Taxpayers

What is the real world impact?

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Prevents waste and fraud in future crises

Aims to stop the large-scale fraud and improper payments that have occurred during past national emergencies by forcing agencies to plan ahead for how they will manage large, sudden influxes of money.

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Imposes new duties without new funding

Mandates that agencies develop, implement, and regularly update these complex plans without providing any extra money to do so. This could strain agency resources, forcing them to pull staff and funds from other important missions.

When does this start?

The bill sets several deadlines for federal agencies and the Office of Management and Budget to create and submit new financial plans.

OMB guidance issuance

The Director of the Office of Management and Budget must issue guidance to agencies within 180 days after the bill becomes law.

Agency plan submission

The head of each covered agency must submit their internal control plan to the OMB Director no later than 1 year after the bill becomes law.

OMB report to Congress

The OMB Director must assemble and submit all agency plans to Congress no later than 15 months after the bill becomes law, and annually thereafter.

Agency plan revisions

Agencies must review and, if needed, revise their plans at least once every 3 years.