H.R. 2069 explained · 119th Congress · Became law
Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025
Cosponsors: 3 (2 D, 1 R) · per Congress.gov, 2026-10-14
Introduced: 2025-03-11
Latest action (2026-09-11): Became Public Law No: 119-106.
What H.R. 2069 does, in plain terms
Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025 This bill expands a requirement for federal agencies to report expenditures on the USAspending.gov website to include other transaction agreement expenditures. (Other transaction agreements, or OTAs, are contractual instruments other than standard procurement contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements; they are exempt from many federal procurement laws and regulations). Under current law, federal agencies must report expenditures on federal awards to USAspending.gov with the term federal award defined as federal grants, loans, cooperative agreements, contracts, and certain other types of expenditures. This bill expands the definition of federal award to include expenditures under OTAs, and therefore such expenditures must be included on the USAspending.gov website. The Department of the Treasury must ensure that data relating to OTAs are automatically transmitted to the website and a centralized view of this data is available on the website. Treasury must also annually post on the USAspending.gov website a report that includes (1) the total amount of federal spending on federal awards for which data has not been posted on the website, and (2) the reason why such spending data was not posted. For 10 years after enactment, the Office of Inspector General of specified federal agencies must periodically submit to Congress and make publicly available a report assessing the agency's spending data and use of data standards.
Official summary by the Congressional Research Service, via Congress.gov.
Constitution Index
“VFA Constitution grade”
Constitutionally sound
Graded 2026-10-11
SI-generated grade · five published checks · not individually reviewed by a person · methodology
The Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025 is a transparency measure that expands federal reporting requirements for certain expenditures. It does not exceed federal enumerated powers, does not infringe on individual rights, and does not consolidate power upward in a problematic way. The bill is fully consistent with the Constitution.
-
✓ Passes · Enumerated powers
The bill operates within the federal government's authority over its own spending and procurement. Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 grants Congress the power to lay and collect taxes and provide for the common defense and general welfare, which includes the authority to appropriate and oversee federal funds. Additionally, the Necessary and Proper Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 18) supports leg… -
✓ Passes · Bill of Rights
The bill does not implicate any of the first ten amendments. It does not restrict speech, religion, assembly, press, or petition (First Amendment); it does not affect the right to keep and bear arms (Second Amendment); it does not involve quartering of soldiers (Third Amendment); it does not authorize searches or seizures (Fourth Amendment); it does not compel self-incrimination or deprive of life… -
✓ Passes · Individual sovereignty
The bill imposes no restrictions on individual conduct. It does not limit what a person can do with their person, property, speech, labor, or belief. It only requires federal agencies to report certain expenditure data, which is a governmental function. There is no burden on individual liberty, and no compelling justification is needed because no individual right is restricted. -
✓ Passes · Decentralization
The bill concerns federal agency reporting to a federal website. It does not involve individuals, local communities, or states in a way that would raise decentralization concerns. The federal government is the actor and the subject of the reporting requirement, so there is no consolidation of decision-making from lower levels of government. The bill does not preempt state law or local authority. I… -
✓ Passes · Due process and takings
The bill does not deprive any person of life, liberty, or property. It does not involve adjudication, enforcement, or seizure of property. It imposes no penalties or obligations on private parties. The reporting requirements are directed at federal agencies and do not affect due process rights. There is no taking of private property for public use without just compensation (Fifth Amendment).
Sources: Congress.gov: HR 2069 summary
Report an error in this grade
The Framers
“Founders’ Verdict”
Confidence 1.00
Archived SI output (machine-generated)No editorial review recorded. This historical SI verdict was machine-generated by software and predates the review desk; check it against the official bill text.
Synthesis
The bill is a constitutional exercise of Congress's power over the public fisc, grounded in the Spending Clause, the Necessary and Proper Clause, and the Appropriations Clause, to mandate transparency and accountability for all federal expenditures including other transaction agreements.
The Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025 is a constitutional exercise of Congress's power over the public fisc. The Constitution expressly requires that 'a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time' (Article I, Section 9, Clause 7). This bill merely expands the definition of 'federal award' to include other transaction agreements, thereby ensuring that the mandated account of expenditures is comprehensive and accurate. Congress's authority to define the scope of this reporting is grounded in its taxing and spending power…
This bill is constitutional because it merely expands the reporting requirements for federal expenditures, which falls within the enumerated power of Congress to control the purse and ensure transparency in the use of public funds. The Constitution grants Congress the power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare (Article I, Section 8, Clause 1). Requiring agencies to report all expenditures, including those under other transaction agreements, is a necessary and proper means to prevent secret or wasteful sp…
The proposed bill is a proper exercise of Congress's enumerated powers under the Spending Clause and the Necessary and Proper Clause. By requiring federal agencies to report expenditures under Other Transaction Agreements on USAspending.gov, Congress enhances transparency and accountability in the use of public funds, which is essential to prevent factional abuse and to maintain the confidence of the people in their government. The reporting requirements are a necessary and proper means to ensure that the power of the purse is exercised with full knowledge of how appropriated funds are spent, …
This bill is a legitimate exercise of the powers vested in Congress by the Constitution. The requirement to report expenditures under other transaction agreements on USAspending.gov is a necessary and proper means to ensure that public funds are disbursed according to law and to prevent abuse. The Appropriations Clause of Article I, Section 9, Clause 7 mandates that no money be drawn from the Treasury but in consequence of appropriations; this bill furthers that principle by requiring transparency for all federal awards, including OTAs. Moreover, under the reasoning of McCulloch v. Maryland (1…
Report an error in this Founders' Verdict
What should pass
“VFA SI Solution”
No solution yet
A sourced SI draft appears here once it passes automated checks (Constitution citation, source verification, independent SI critic). How publication works.
Related on VFA
For journalists and bloggers
“Embed this grade”
Free to use with the link back. The badge and card update when the grade changes. Embed terms →
