EXCLUSIVE — Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) introduced a bill to codify President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at protecting “America’s bank account” against fraud, waste, and abuse.
The U.S. General Fund comprises the assets and liabilities used to finance federal operations. Executive Order 14249, signed March 25, aims to strengthen financial integrity in the fund through various measures. On Thursday, Hinson is introducing the Protecting American Taxpayers from Wasteful Spending Act to codify the order.
“It is absurd the federal government wastes up to $521 billion — that’s right, billion — in taxpayer dollars each year in improper payments. That’s hundreds of billions of your tax dollars flushed down the drain without swamp bureaucrats blinking an eye. President Trump’s executive order to prevent improper payments is a great step to end this abuse, and my bill will make this effort permanent to ensure your hard-earned tax dollars are not wasted,” Hinson told the Washington Examiner.
The Government Accountability Office estimates the total amount of money lost to inadequate data and outdated systems is between $233 billion and $521 billion annually.
Trump’s executive order and Hinson’s bill aim to reduce that total by enabling the Treasury Department to “more easily conduct improper payment and fraud prevention screening before disbursing funds on behalf of agencies.” The measures would require agencies to provide necessary information to the Treasury for better tracking of transactions through the General Fund and to “consolidate and standardize core federal financial systems.”
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The consolidation aims to centralize disbursing authority within the Treasury by reducing non-treasury disbursing offices, which were responsible for 181 million payments totaling over $1.5 trillion in fiscal 2024.
Hinson’s time in Congress has largely been focused on combating government waste, similar to her fellow Iowan in the Senate, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA). She serves on the House Appropriations Committee.
