House Budget Committee Members Consider Ideas to Curb Improper Payments
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the House Budget Committee convened a roundtable to discuss improper payments across the Federal government and opportunities for reform. The roundtable featured Gene Dodaro, Comptroller General and head of the Government Accountability Office (GAO), Orice Williams Brown, Chief Operating Officer of the GAO, Budget Committee Members, and others.
Led by House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-TX), the Member roundtable examined ways to address improper payments to ensure better stewardship of taxpayer funds. The Federal government makes hundreds of billions of dollars in improper payments every year, including fraudulent payments, underpayments, and overpayments. In 2023 alone, the Federal government spent at least $236 billion on improper payments, according to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Pictured left to right: Rep. Grothman (R-WI), Chairman Arrington (R-TX), and Rep. McClintock (R-CA) speak with GAO comptroller general Gene Dodaro
House Budget Committee Republicans are committed to combatting improper payments in federal spending while simultaneously improving the nation’s budget outlook. For the past seven months, the House Budget Committee and the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability have been leading an effort to reduce government-wide waste, fraud, and abuse. To date, the Improper Payments Working Group has held staff-level meetings and roundtables with relevant committees, legislative and executive branch partners, outside experts, and good government accountability groups to identify novel ideas on ways to curb improper payments:
- 7/28/2023 – Inaugural Improper Payments Working Group Staff Meeting
- 9/10/2023 – Briefing with the Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
- 11/2/2023 – Industry Roundtable with Experian, Lexis Nexis, and JP Morgan
- 11/15/2023 – Briefing with the U.S. Treasury Bureau of Fiscal Service
- 12/13/2023 – Briefing with the Government Accountability Office (GAO)
- 1/16/2024 – Improper Payments Working Group Staff Meeting to Discuss Legislation
The Bottom Line:
Given the $34 trillion and rising national debt, the Federal government has a responsibility to rein in unnecessary spending. It is not possible to do this without addressing improper payments.
House Budget Committee Republicans are dedicated to improving Congressional oversight of federal spending to reduce the risk of payment errors and fraud. Chairman Arrington appreciates the time and effort put in by the members who participated in today’s roundtable and thanks GAO Comptroller Dodaro and Orice Williams Brown for their time, participation, and commitment to this goal.
