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Federal Spending Transparency
[2008] [2007]

FederalSpending.gov / USASpending.gov

As a result of the 2006 “Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act,” sponsored by Senators Tom Coburn (R-OK) and Barack Obama (D-IL), federal contracting and grant awards must be posted online. The website required by the act went live on December 13 and can be accessed at www.federalspending.gov ; www.USASPending.gov .

The early launch of the website was made possible thanks to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) partnering with OBM Watch, a watchdog organization which hosts www.fedspending.org . The website for USASpending.gov is based on the software that runs FedSpending.org.

ATR weighed in with members of congress in January of 2008 praising their efforts and urging them to take spending transparency to the next level, and has followed up again in May of 2008.

Also, see our letter to President Bush urging him issue an executive order that would incorporate the actual expenditure into USAspending.gov

On June 3rd, the orginal co-sponsors of the 2006 landmark legislation introduced follow-up language incorporating several of the improvements ATR recommended. However, the bill could and should still be strengthened.

See ATR's letter and an op-ed by Sandra Fabry here.


Federal Real Property Database.

OMB's Office of Federal Financial Management is currently compiling a comprehensive database of all real property owned by the federal government. Incredibly, no one agency knows how much property the government owns.

www.whitehouse.gov/omb/financial/fia_asset.html .


Earmarks.OMB.gov.

In 2007, the Office of Management and Budget announced that they would make available a public, searchable database of “earmarks” (funds provided by the Congress for projects or programs where the congressional direction--in bill or report language--circumvents the merit-based or competitive allocation process, or specifies the location or recipient, or otherwise curtails the ability of the Executive Branch to properly allocate funds). Through this greater transparency and sunshine, the goal is to cut the number of earmarks in half. http://earmarks.omb.gov

Results.gov.

Each year, federal agencies are evaluated based on several criteria: human capital, competitive sourcing, financial performance, E-governance, and budget/performance integration. A score for each area is assigned (red, yellow, or green). For scores in transition, momentum is tracked. Several agencies have gone to “full green.” www.results.gov

ExpectMore.gov.

This evaluates each spending program of the federal government. A 25-question Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART) test is administered. Programs are rated as effective, moderately effective, adequate, ineffective, or results not demonstrated. To date, less than half of the 977 programs tested scored out as effective or moderately effective, demonstrating areas to cut waste, fraud, and abuse. www.expectmore.gov