# The Responsible BUILD Act: A Watchdog for Infrastructure Spending

This bill creates a new government position called the Special Inspector General for Infrastructure Projects—basically a federal watchdog whose job is to keep tabs on how states and the federal government spend money from the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act, the major infrastructure law passed in 2021 that provided billions for roads, bridges, public transit, and other projects.

Think of it this way: when the government hands out large amounts of money to states for big construction projects, someone needs to make sure that money actually goes where it's supposed to go and isn't wasted, stolen, or misused. This bill establishes an independent office to do exactly that. The Special Inspector General would have the power to audit spending, investigate potential fraud or illegal activity, and issue subpoenas to get documents and information. They'd also hire their own staff of auditors and investigators to dig into how states are using federal infrastructure dollars—everything from tracking where the money goes to checking whether contracts were awarded fairly and competitively.

The watchdog would report quarterly to Congress and the Transportation Secretary, publishing detailed reports about all the money being spent, which companies or organizations received contracts, and whether anything suspicious happened. If they find evidence of fraud or waste, they can refer cases to the Department of Justice for prosecution. The position would last for ten years and receive $20 million annually to operate. Essentially, this bill adds a layer of oversight to make sure the massive infrastructure spending actually delivers results and prevents taxpayer money from being lost to corruption or mismanagement.

Responsible BUILD Act

Meijer, Peter

Responsible, Better Understanding of Infrastructure Leveraged Dollars Act or the Responsible BUILD Act This bill establishes the Office of the Special Inspector General for Infrastructure Projects within the Department of Transportation (DOT). Specifically, the office shall provide for independent and objective (1) supervision of certain infrastructure projects; and (2) leadership and coordination of, and recommendations on, policies designed to promote efficiency and effectiveness and to prevent and detect waste, fraud, and abuse related to such projects. The office must submit quarterly reports to Congress and DOT on state spending of infrastructure funding.