This bill became law on 2026-09-29 as Public Law No. 119-120.
The summary below describes the bill at the version we last reviewed; the enacted text may differ.
YourVoice.Now Summary
Transparency & AccountabilityFederal projects five years late or $1 billion over budget must now be named in a yearly public list — contractors included.
Transparency & Accountability
A project lands on the list in one of two ways. It is more than five years past its first finish date. Or spending has run at least $1 billion over the first estimate. Money that Congress does not vote on each year is left out.
Agencies must list the main contractor and every subcontractor. They must also name anyone who got a grant on the project. Each entry gives the contract number, the locations, and the federal share of the cost.
Some contractors get a bonus or incentive fee on a project. If that project is late or over budget, the report must show the amount. It must also show why the bonus was paid.
Each agency has to say what caused the delay or the added cost. If Congress sent the money late or cut it short, the agency has to say that too.
Big projects often grow after they start, and some get cut back. The agency must say what was added to the job, or what was taken out.
More about this bill
Nothing in your daily life changes. What changes is what you can look up. Each year, the White House budget office (OMB) must post a list of federal projects that are far behind or far over budget. A project makes the list if it is more than five years late. It also makes the list if spending has gone at least $1 billion past the first estimate. OMB has until October 7, 2027, to tell agencies how to report. The list covers most federal agencies, including big weapons programs and regulators like the Federal Reserve. Projects paid for by spending Congress does not vote on each year are left out. Each project on the list comes with details. Agencies must name the main contractor, the subcontractors, and any grant recipients. They must give the first and current finish dates. They must give the first and current cost estimates, both adjusted for inflation. They must explain what went wrong. If Congress sent the money late or sent too little, they have to say so. They must also explain any change to what the project was meant to do. Any bonus paid on the project is listed, with the reason for it. This became law on October 7, 2026 (Public Law 119-120).
Congressional Summary
Congress's official summary of this bill still describes an earlier version of the text, so we have left it out here. You can read it on Congress.gov.
Legislative Subjects
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Senate
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Public Law
- Action Date
- 2026-10-07
- Date Added
- 2026-09-09
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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