When people think of the rights and responsibilities of a legislator, they typically first imagine lawmaking: the slow and arduous task of crafting laws and policies. Thankfully, some members of Congress are moving beyond a passive view of lawmaking and are recovering a fuller picture of what it means to exercise their duties as elected representatives, namely by fighting fraud in federal grants.
This week, 34 members of the House and the Senate submitted a comment letter to the White House Office of Management and Budget on a proposed rule to strengthen accountability and oversight of federal grantmaking.
Led by Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., and Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Texas, these members are taking an active role in highlighting how the Trump administration’s actions to encourage oversight and accountability over public funds align with congressional intent set forth in federal law.
“It is vital that recipients of government assistance comply with federal law,” the members wrote in a comment letter submitted to OMB. “As members of the United States Congress, we have an interest in ensuring that federal funds do not flow to projects or recipients that violate laws passed by our institution—or constitutional provisions passed by Congress and ratified by the States. And as representatives of the American people, we have an interest in stopping these funds from advancing peripheral and experimental ideologies that seek to destabilize the American project and harm the American people.”
Legislators take an oath to support and defend the Constitution, bear true faith and allegiance to the same, and “faithfully discharge the duties of the office.” These are “duties,” plural, in recognition of the multiple functions of a legislator.
Over time, members of Congress overpromised and underdelivered, leading citizens to expect less of their elected representatives in Washington, D.C.
In some ways, this is good; the federal government should not be the first stop to solve societal problems. But it can also cause problems, as our Republic cannot function if those elected to serve lose the public’s trust.
The 34 members of Congress highlight this at the end of their letter: “We commend OMB for seeking to ensure that all assistance disbursed by the federal government aligns with the Constitution and with federal law. The American people deserve no less.”
At a time when the American people are frustrated with Congress being more talk than action, it is refreshing to see representatives work with the administration to take back the reins from unelected bureaucrats in the administrative state.
The OMB’s proposed rule makes commonsense changes such as connecting the dots between government agencies to ensure fraudsters can no longer scam one agency, get flagged, then scam a different one.
As one example, Minnesota saw scams targeting federal child nutrition programs, then housing support programs, and finally taking advantage of programs to aid children with autism. By expanding the U.S. Treasury’s “Do Not Pay” tool the opportunities for fraud plummet, as proven by the recovered $11.7 billion in fiscal year 2025.
Another simple but effective tool would require grantees to submit certification of services rendered before the government authorizes payment.
No more pay first, chase fraud later.
These rule changes are the executive branch working to faithfully execute the law as Congress intended. While it is easy to be cynical, most laws are crafted by Congress not to produce loopholes for fraud. Thus, Congress has a responsibility to see that the executive carries out these functions with maximum integrity.
We should all encourage more of this inter-branch cooperation to secure public funds. The way the federal government stewards taxpayer dollars is a direct reflection of its respect for those it represents.
Socialists spend like drunken sailors because they have little respect for those whom they are supposed to serve. Conservatives have long sought to ensure an efficient and effective government that promotes subsidiarity, which means this cleanup of federal financial management could not come at a better time.
As Americans reflect on 250 years since the Declaration of Independence, we should all recommit to upholding our rights and duties as citizens, starting with restoring trust in the stewardship of public funds.