119th Congress (2025-2026)

HR 428

Bonuses for Cost-Cutters and Fraud Preventers Act of 2026

In Second Chamber

Jurisdiction

US Congress

Session

119th Congress (2025-2026)

Official source

Chamber

House

Session

119th Congress (2025-2026)

Jurisdiction

US Congress

Bill overview

This bill, the Bonuses for Cost-Cutters Act of 2025, expands a program that allows federal employees to receive cash awards for identifying wasteful expenses and fraud, waste, or mismanagement within their agencies. It increases the maximum award amount to $20,000 and requires agencies to propose identified wasteful expenses for potential rescission. The bill also clarifies definitions and establishes a process for reporting on the program’s effectiveness.

Key provisions

Increases the maximum cash award for identifying wasteful expenses to $20,000.
Expands the definition of ‘wasteful expenses’ to include amounts made available for various agency accounts.
Requires agencies to propose identified wasteful expenses for rescission.
Clarifies the roles of the Chief Financial Officer and Inspector General in the award process.
Mandates agencies to report on disclosures of wasteful expenses and cash awards provided.
Specifies that individuals in the Office of the Inspector General or ineligible for awards are not eligible.
Requires annual certification from the Director of OPM regarding program compliance.
Directs the Comptroller General to submit a report to Congress every three years on the program’s operation.

Who is affected

Federal Employees
Federal Agencies
Chief Financial Officers
Inspectors General
Office of Personnel Management

Notable changes

Positions across the country

No public positions recorded for this legislation.

Arguments in favor

Reasons to support this legislation.

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Arguments opposed

Reasons to oppose this legislation.

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Legislative history

2025-01-15House

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

2025-01-15

Introduced in House

2025-01-15

Introduced in House

2026-03-18House

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 40 - 0.

Passage without roll call

The official record shows passage by unanimous consent or voice vote where no roll call was taken. No member-level tally is available for these steps, and the district map does not apply.

6/8/2026HouseVoice vote
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3936-3937)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.
6/8/2026Voice vote
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3936-3937)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.

Floor votes and chamber actions

Recorded roll calls list how each member voted. Unanimous consent or voice vote appears in the official action history without a roll call; no member-level tally is available for those steps.

Passage without roll call

6/8/2026HouseVoice vote
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3936-3937)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.
6/8/2026Voice vote
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3936-3937)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.

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Jan 15, 2025XMLView source

119th CONGRESS — 1st Session

H. R. 428

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

A BILL

To amend title 5, United States Code, to enhance the authority under which Federal agencies may pay cash awards to employees for making cost saving disclosures, and for other purposes.

1.Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Bonuses for Cost-Cutters Act of 2025

2.Cost savings enhancements

(a)Definitions

Section 4511 of title 5, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in the section heading, by striking Definition and inserting Definitions; and

(2)

in subsection (a)—

(A)

by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and;

(B)

by striking this subchapter, the term and inserting the following: “this subchapter—

(1)

the term

; and

(C)

by adding at the end the following:

(2)the term wasteful expenses means amounts made available for salaries and expenses accounts, operations and maintenance accounts, or other equivalent accounts—

(A)

that are identified by an employee of the agency under section 4512(a) as wasteful; and

(B)

that the Chief Financial Officer of the agency determines are not required for the purpose for which the amounts were made available.

(b)Authority

Section 4512 of title 5, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a)—

(A)

by inserting The head of an agency may pay a cash award to any employee of such agency whose identification of wasteful expenses to the Chief Financial Officer of the agency has resulted in cost savings for the agency. after the first sentence;

(B)

in paragraph (1) by striking $10,000 and inserting $20,000;

(C)

in paragraph (2)—

(i)

by inserting Chief Financial Officer, after Inspector General,;

(ii)by striking employee designated under subsection (b) and inserting designated employee; and

(iii)

by inserting or identification after disclosure; and

(D)

in the matter following paragraph (2)—

(i)

by inserting , Chief Financial Officer, after Inspector General; and

(ii)

by inserting or identification after disclosure;

(2)

in subsection (b) by striking awards permitted under this section and inserting awards for the disclosure of fraud, waste, or mismanagement under this section; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following:

(c)

(1)If the Chief Financial Officer of the agency determines that potential wasteful expenses identified by an employee meet the requirements of section 4511(a)(2)(B), the head of the agency shall notify the President for purposes of proposing the expenses for rescission under title X of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 681 et seq.).

(2)

In the case of an agency for which there is no Chief Financial Officer, the head of the agency shall designate an agency employee who shall have the authority to make the determinations for identification of wasteful expenses under this section.

(d)The head of each agency shall make available, along with, and in the same manner and form as, the provision of information required under section 1116 of title 31, information on disclosures of wasteful expenses under this section, including—

(1)a description of each disclosure of possible wasteful expenses identified by an employee and determined by the agency to have merit; and

(2)the number and amount of cash awards provided by the agency under subsection (a).

(e)An individual may not receive a cash award under this subchapter if the individual is—

(1)

an officer or employee of the Office of the Inspector General of an agency; or

(2)ineligible for a cash award under section 4509.

(f)

The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall—

(1)

ensure that the cash award program of each agency complies with this section; and

(2)

submit to Congress an annual certification indicating whether the cash award program of each agency complies with this section.

(g)

Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of the

Bonuses for Cost-Cutters Act of 2025

, and every 3 years thereafter for 6 years, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report on the operation of the cost savings and awards program under this section, including any recommendations for legislative changes.

(c)Technical and conforming amendment

The table of sections for subchapter II of chapter 45 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 4511 and inserting the following:

4511. Definitions and general provisions.

HR 428

Bill overview

Key provisions

Who is affected

Notable changes

Sponsors

Primary sponsor

Cosponsors

Positions across the country

Arguments in favor

Arguments opposed

Passage without roll call

Floor votes and chamber actions

Passage without roll call

Bill text

Fiscal impact

Positions across the country

Passage without roll call

Floor votes and chamber actions

Passage without roll call