# Plain Language Summary: Make Transportation Authorities Accountable and Transparent Act

This bill requires the Department of Transportation's inspector general—basically a government watchdog—to audit how the five largest public transit systems in the country spent federal money they received during the pandemic and recovery period. Specifically, the bill focuses on funds these transit agencies received between 2019 and 2023 under various coronavirus relief laws, including the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan. The inspector general needs to figure out exactly how much money each of these major transit systems got and what they actually spent it on.

The main goal is transparency and accountability. During the pandemic, Congress sent billions of dollars to public transportation systems to help them stay afloat when ridership dropped dramatically. This bill essentially asks: did these transit agencies use that money the way it was intended? The inspector general has 180 days after the bill passes to complete the audit and report back to Congress with their findings. This means Congress and the public will get a clear picture of whether the money went toward legitimate transit operations, maintenance, employee salaries, or if there were any questionable spending patterns.

For everyday people, this matters because it affects how your tax dollars are spent on public transportation. If you ride buses, trains, or subways in one of the country's five largest transit systems—likely New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington D.C., or San Francisco—this audit could reveal whether your local transit system managed pandemic relief funds responsibly. If problems are found, it could lead to better oversight and requirements for how transit agencies handle federal money in the future.

Make Transportation Authorities Accountable and Transparent Act

Malliotakis, Nicole

Make Transportation Authorities Accountable and Transparent Act This bill directs the inspector general of the Department of Transportation to conduct an audit of public transportation coronavirus relief spending and report to Congress.