# Plain Language Summary: No More D.C. Waste Act

This bill changes how the federal government handles leftover money from a tuition assistance program in Washington, D.C. Right now, if the D.C. government doesn't spend all the federal money allocated for helping D.C. residents pay for college in a given year, that unused money can carry over and be spent in future years. This bill would eliminate that practice—any federal tuition assistance money that isn't spent by the end of the fiscal year would simply disappear and couldn't be used later.

The bill specifically targets D.C.'s College Access Program, which helps D.C. residents afford college tuition at both public and private schools. Currently, the law says these funds "remain available until expended," meaning D.C. can hold onto unspent money indefinitely. The bill removes that language, forcing D.C. to either use the money within the fiscal year or lose it. The changes would apply to all funding from 2016 onward, though the bill was introduced in 2025.

Additionally, the bill requires D.C.'s Chief Financial Officer to submit annual reports to Congress starting in 2026, detailing how the tuition assistance money was actually used. These reports must include how many students received help, the average amount each student got, and how much money, if any, went unspent. The intent appears to be ensuring that federal tuition dollars are spent efficiently and not sitting idle in D.C. accounts. For D.C. residents using this tuition program, the practical effect could mean tighter budgeting by the D.C. government and potentially less flexibility if funding needs change mid-year.