Order Aims to Curb Fraud and Waste in Federal Spending
Published Date: 3/28/2025
Presidential Document
Summary
The government is stepping up to protect America’s money from fraud, waste, and abuse by requiring better financial tracking from all federal agencies. This means agencies must share more detailed info to help catch mistakes and stop billions of dollars from slipping away each year. Starting soon, these changes will make sure your tax dollars are safer and spent smarter.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 2 mixed.
Treasury will pre-screen federal payments
The Department of the Treasury will require pre-certification verification for payments it makes on behalf of agencies to detect fraud and improper payments before disbursing funds. The order directs agencies to cooperate with Treasury screening programs (including the Do Not Pay system) to defend against the $233 billion to $521 billion the Government estimates it loses annually to fraud.
New payment verification checks listed
Before payment, certifying officers must meet pre-certification checks such as verifying funds availability, correct payee name, required taxpayer or payee ID (SSN, TIN, EIN, ITIN, or Payee ID), valid bank account belonging to the payee, payees are not deceased, and inclusion of contract or award identifiers where applicable. These specific criteria are listed in the order as conditions Treasury may enforce before certification.
Agencies must send payment files in advance
Agencies must submit payment files (except same-day payments) to the Department of the Treasury with sufficient lead time before disbursement as determined by Treasury to allow fraud and improper-payment screening. For same-day payments, agencies must submit payment files as much in advance as reasonably practicable.
Treasury will centralize disbursing authority
Within 30 days, the Secretary of the Treasury must assess whether to revoke delegated disbursing authority and may return disbursing functions from Non-Treasury Disbursing Offices (NTDOs) to Treasury. Agency heads (including Defense, Homeland Security, and the Attorney General) will work with Treasury to delegate their disbursing activities to Treasury, and remaining NTDOs must report daily to Treasury's centralized accounting system.
Agencies will share records and enable matching
Agency heads must update system-of-records notices under the Privacy Act within 90 days to include a routine use allowing disclosure of records to the Department of the Treasury for identifying, preventing, or recouping fraud and improper payments. The order also directs Treasury (in consultation with OMB) to minimize barriers to data access and may waive requirements for computer matching activities to the extent permitted by law.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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