Bill · S. 3643· Senate(119-S-3643)
Special Inspector General for Program Fraud Act
- Introduced
- 1/14/2026
- Last activity
- 1/14/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Sponsored by
- Josh Hawley
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill establishes the Office of the Special Inspector General for Program Fraud. The office is tasked with providing independent oversight, audits, and investigations into programs funded for child assistance in the United States. It aims to detect and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse within these specific programs. The Special Inspector General will lead this effort and report to various federal agency heads and Congress. The office is intended to ensure that federal agencies are informed about deficiencies and necessary corrective actions. This office is scheduled to terminate on September 30, 2027.
Yes· 3 of 7
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+3
The bill mandates quarterly reports on expenditures to be published on a public website.
Would children be better off under this?+2
The bill protects the integrity of funds intended for child assistance programs.
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?+2
The creation of an oversight office promotes the responsible use of federal funds for child assistance.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Oversight of Child Assistance Funds: The bill creates a system for independent and objective audits and investigations regarding programs that fund child assistance, such as child care or nutrition (Section 2(a)(1), Section 2(l)(2)). This could help ensure funds are used as intended.
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Prevention of Waste and Fraud: By establishing leadership to coordinate policies to prevent and detect waste, fraud, and abuse, the bill aims to protect the integrity of child assistance programs (Section 2(a)(2)).
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Accountability for Federal Employees and Contractors: The duties include investigating potential unethical or illegal actions by Federal employees, contractors, or affiliated entities, with a focus on addressing issues like overpayments or duplicate billing (Section 2(f)(1)(E)).
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Transparency of Program Spending: The Inspector General is required to submit quarterly reports that include detailed statements of obligations, expenditures, and revenues, which must be published on a public website (Section 2(i)(1), Section 2(i)(3)). This allows the public to see how funds are being used.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Temporary Nature of Oversight: The Office of the Special Inspector General for Program Fraud is scheduled to terminate on September 30, 2027, which may mean that the oversight of these programs is not permanent (Section 2(n)(1)).
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Potential for Restricted Information Disclosure: While reports are meant to be public, the bill notes that information may not be disclosed if it is specifically prohibited by other laws or is part of an ongoing criminal investigation (Section 2(i)(4)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+3Increases Federal Power+1
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Children+2Good For Low Income Households+1
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Fiscal Responsibility+2Reduces Government Spending+1
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Childcare Affordability+1
- 8/7/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/14/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Introduced in Senate
David McCormickRepublican · Pennsylvania