# Plain Language Summary: Agency Accountability and Cost Transparency Act of 2025

This bill requires federal agencies to prove that new major regulations won't cost the public more money overall. Before an agency can put a significant new rule into effect, it must first calculate how much the rule will cost people to follow. Then, the agency has to find an old rule it can eliminate that saves people at least as much money as the new rule costs. Only if the agency can make this trade-off—eliminating old costs to balance new costs—can it move forward with the new regulation. The agency must then publicly state whether the new rule is "budget neutral," meaning the costs and savings cancel each other out.

The bill defines a "major rule" as one that affects the economy by $100 million or more per year, significantly raises costs for consumers or businesses, or impacts competition and job creation. This covers most significant regulations that people would actually notice, like environmental standards, workplace safety rules, or financial regulations. The bill also expands what counts as a "rule" to include guidance documents and policy statements that agencies issue, not just formal regulations.

In practical terms, this means federal agencies will face a new hurdle before implementing new rules. If an agency wants to create a new safety standard or environmental protection, it can't just do it—it has to find something else to eliminate first. Supporters argue this prevents regulatory overreach and keeps compliance costs from piling up. Critics worry it could block important protections if agencies can't find old rules worth eliminating, or that it oversimplifies how regulations actually work by treating all costs as equal. Either way, the bill aims to make the government more transparent about what new rules will cost ordinary people and businesses.