# Stop Secret Spending Act of 2024: Plain Language Summary

Right now, the federal government spends hundreds of billions of dollars every year, but not all of that spending is easy for the public to track. The Stop Secret Spending Act aims to fix this by requiring the government to report a type of spending agreement called "other transaction agreements" to USAspending.gov, a public website where Americans can see how their tax dollars are being spent. These agreements are contracts the government uses, particularly for research and development projects, but they've largely been invisible to public scrutiny. This bill would bring them into the light by making sure they're reported the same way regular government contracts are.

The bill creates several new requirements to increase transparency. Within 90 days of the law passing, the government must create a unique way to identify and track these "other transaction agreements" on the spending website. Every year, the government must also post a public report showing how much federal money wasn't reported on the website and explain why—whether it's because the spending involves national security, came from Congress or the courts, or other reasons. This gives Congress and the public a clear picture of what spending is being kept private and the justification for keeping it private.

The bill also strengthens oversight by requiring government inspectors general to report on spending transparency issues to Congress every two years, and it establishes quality standards so that when agencies do report their spending, the information is complete and accurate. The practical effect is that citizens, journalists, and watchdog groups will have much better access to information about where federal money is going, making it harder for wasteful or questionable spending to hide in the shadows. The only spending that would remain unreported would be those with legitimate reasons like national security concerns.