HR 2069: Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025

HR 2069 in plain English: This bill requires federal agencies to report spending under 'other transaction agreements' (OTAs) — flexible contracts currently exempt from many procurement rules — on the public website USAspending.gov. It also requires the Treasury Department to ensure this data is automatically posted and visible, and mandates annual reports on any federal spending that has not been disclosed on the site.

Stated purpose

This bill aims to require federal agencies to publicly report their spending through 'other transaction agreements' (OTAs) on the USAspending.gov website, closing a reporting gap that currently leaves these flexible government contracts off the public transparency site.

Key points

• Expands the USAspending.gov reporting requirement to include other transaction agreements (OTAs), which were previously exempt.
• Requires Treasury to ensure OTA spending data is automatically transmitted to and centrally viewable on USAspending.gov.
• Requires an annual public report listing total federal spending not yet posted to USAspending.gov and the reasons why.
• For 10 years after enactment, agency Inspectors General must periodically report to Congress on agency spending data and use of data standards.

Arguments supporters make

• OTAs are a large and growing category of federal spending that currently escapes public disclosure, so bringing them onto USAspending.gov closes a real transparency gap and lets citizens see where their money goes.
• Requiring agencies to explain any spending still left off the site—and why—adds accountability and makes it harder to quietly avoid reporting obligations.
• Greater visibility into OTA spending helps Congress and watchdog groups catch waste, fraud, or abuse in contracts that have historically operated with fewer rules and less oversight.

Arguments opponents make

• OTAs were intentionally designed to be flexible and exempt from standard procurement rules in order to attract innovative companies, especially in defense and technology; adding reporting burdens could make the tool less effective or discourage participation.
• Some OTA spending touches on national security and sensitive programs; even with exemptions written into the bill, mandatory centralized reporting could create risks if sensitive contract details become more accessible.
• The three-year implementation timeline and new annual reporting requirements place real administrative costs on agencies and Treasury, potentially diverting resources without proportional benefit if the data is too technical for the public to meaningfully use.

Tradeoffs

Expanding public transparency over billions in flexible government contracts may improve accountability, but it could also reduce the speed and attractiveness of a contracting tool agencies rely on for rapid innovation and sensitive projects.

Current status in Congress: Passed House.

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