[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6215445,"mediaKeyId","3659404-39127fcb7e85945adb744051e1635b9d","parentId",3659404,"title","Lawmakers press OMB on improper payments and plans for pre‑award precertification","audioSeconds",136,"startMs",3557000,"endMs",3693000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3659404-39127fcb7e85945adb744051e1635b9d&start=3557&end=3693","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3659404-39127fcb7e85945adb744051e1635b9d/thumbnail_3557000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6215445/Lawmakers-press-OMB-on-improper-payments-and-plans-for-preaward-precertification","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6215445-bcbd20713de82d66aeabe52a2cb4e1ea/orig.mp4?Expires=1774794260&Signature=Bxok8bBTFKSfTlSATwfB-jB34MooRRuf2QhT1VFxOAaHPpBlN9r2Ou-rOmp2Akx38gq9BZ1bV1sH9wmCiyiVGlfESRe0Nq63DV3iYK7uS6xJ0zHsDQpumPUa5NWvHEblqbi3eKam4wDgCQ-v855GskR-tRXTW8Sa4nBogNqKKwzkDg2QEaH4LD2~OYQ~0KjMQl0nTcHhS2DyAMyczHH4lUck4ki7UaRctzQFtrGwIdbI0s0HNwfhGUeH3N0sm2URPmWui2T1NvrU7A55e4ZDQdf-toPIphzQH7hgrNQjBfskB8gypVn6sHhdwT~R-q6OzHJOkjhx3bM99Ki1qdqxOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","U.S. House Committee on Appropriations","date","2025-05-29T18:49:12Z","article","WASHINGTON — Lawmakers pressed Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vogt about improper payments and what the administration plans to do to reduce fraud and waste, citing Government Accountability Office estimates and a recent executive order directing new pre‑award procedures.

Representative Hinson said GAO estimates improper payments between roughly $230 billion and $500 billion and called for rapid implementation of pre‑award precertification and cross‑checks between agency datasets. \"When we look at the taxpayer money being disrespected in that way ... I appreciate your candor, and the effort, by this administration to do that through the executive order,\" Hinson said, referencing the president’s executive order to \"protect America's bank account\" (identified in testimony by members as EO 14249).

Vogt told the subcommittee OMB was \"working on government‑wide guidance to agencies\" and that the office was in a policy process defining what precertification should include. He said the administration sees this as a priority and that the IT and analyst resources at OMB are necessary to push agencies to adopt cross‑checks and prevent improper payments.

On accountability, Vogt said OMB seeks cultural change so that agencies are rewarded for implementing both deregulatory and anti‑fraud actions, and described ongoing discussion about providing credit to agency teams that improve data cross‑checks and reduce improper payments. He did not give a timeline beyond saying guidance would be returned to the committee \"soon.\"","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Budget Hearing – Office of Management and Budget","oneSentenceSummary","Members and OMB discussed improper payments, the administration's executive order on preventing waste (referenced as EO 14249), and plans to implement precertification and pre‑award checks; OMB said government‑wide guidance is being developed.","taxTitle","Appropriations: House Committee, Standing Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation, Legislative, Federal","taxId",1832,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6215449,"Debate over reconciliation bill, mandatory savings and Medicaid work requirements surfaces at OMB hearing",2900,3186000,6086000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3659404-39127fcb7e85945adb744051e1635b9d&start=3186&end=6086","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3659404-39127fcb7e85945adb744051e1635b9d/thumbnail_3186000.jpg","/articles/6215449/Debate-over-reconciliation-bill-mandatory-savings-and-Medicaid-work-requirements-surfaces-at-OMB-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6215449-ae203047087691b4bb57a16e81654b90/orig.mp4?Expires=1774794260&Signature=h7ht2Mwa4MvCv8jmS4zvuKYeLoAMJHscWLiO~3l1-npGkcqi~HyuGk9JRMtiBs2z6SuVITWN6xQOLUHfc4utN4qGAB6roFNA1cV0M9j9aHxgdI-UkXG~L363tM8tWWpBF5Wtya84FZQbOSQuZT~~sO4-sWsHFdydPXCYQw~LyKEz-mJ0DhvOLmvKpFLmndS4icIGj5BmxQALaDDe0dICPBB8yAuE-3wqHh5PaweI6PApdIwOJ5c6-XxNYHryUTSJfo5fAqJJOJ6SqH3XQldSYEYcPlPeIrQwSNqL89rg~x3zVlaSIYwecimQeEmklcvV3yOtVNPo9XAZqzxICtTnrA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","WASHINGTON — The House Appropriations subcommittee wrestled on Thursday with the administration’s support for a reconciliation package the witnesses and members described repeatedly as the \"1 big beautiful bill,\" focusing on its mandatory‑spending reforms and proposed work or community-engagement conditions tied to Medicaid.

Director Russ Vogt told the panel the reconciliation legislation the White House supports would produce roughly $1.7 trillion in mandatory savings and that the administration views those reforms as central to improving fiscal trajectory. \"We believe that we're doing that with this bill that has you have passed out of the house,\" Vogt said, describing mandatory savings as a major element of the administration’s fiscal strategy.

Several members challenged that framing. Representative Pocan and others cited nonpartisan estimates and analyses that project coverage losses; members raised the CBO, Moody’s and independent scholars as having different projections for growth and coverage impacts. Vogt disputed CBO baseline assumptions and said the administration’s modeling predicts larger growth and different fiscal outcomes.

The hearing included detailed questions about Medicaid demonstrations that require work reporting. Representative Bishop described Georgia's experience implementing a work‑reporting demonstration that produced high administrative costs and low enrollment conversions; he said Georgia spent about $92 million (federal and state funds combined) on implementation and that only a small share of eligible adults were enrolled 18 months into implementation.

Vogt said the administration expects reforms to build on the 1997 bipartisan framework and predicted the changes would not deny life‑saving care. Members asked how the federal government would ensure states use federal funds for benefits not paperwork; Vogt said OMB would provide government-wide guidance but did not provide an operational timeline beyond forthcoming policy details.

Committee members on both sides signaled continued scrutiny; Democrats warned of coverage disruptions and administrative burdens, and Republicans emphasized fiscal sustainability and work incentives. No statutory changes were adopted at the hearing; discussion foreshadows likely legislative and oversight fights as reconciliation moves through Congress.","Committee members and OMB Director Russ Vogt debated the administration's support for reconciliation legislation described as producing large mandatory savings, including proposed Medicaid work or community engagement requirements; members raised concerns about coverage impacts and administrative costs following state examples.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6215454,"Hearing details move of \"US Doge Service\" to White House and OMB request for IT modernization funds",4284,2352000,6636000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3659404-39127fcb7e85945adb744051e1635b9d&start=2352&end=6636","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3659404-39127fcb7e85945adb744051e1635b9d/thumbnail_2352000.jpg","/articles/6215454/Hearing-details-move-of-US-Doge-Service-to-White-House-and-OMB-request-for-IT-modernization-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6215454-8c0a615173e8a8993de6f2618f89a462/orig.mp4?Expires=1774794260&Signature=eahdZVksepcXVV2yxXNqFAS6akfpDkCHa22z2DlC~EMR3hfqKIGu5RS223X9CrnT5keoHTG~7A~th7DLC-r-JtHxSJFr~oyNfKHklD2ndvOBLSycxWiEHgleufdONOw3Ea8XAN3pilNs9lLAiL6mlWrlx1OvcU2D80JsdVIyU8eqDNaOeW0oco4nXSvaE5Lyundhqj66LO3PfnxRoEZExN7haGDFPEP8q4I86AFe0uvFi5wgKHUvaCANAnJW7smF7kdrvmcFrGN2oSboKWK7YIKNMG0CY3cU56JkrokmR4pr9khV9jzL6n4kp85YN8VwbvEvYpweIhyMThiEszGsYQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","WASHINGTON — House appropriators questioned OMB Director Russ Vogt about an executive order establishing a restructured technology office the testimony repeatedly called the \"US Doge Service\" and how OMB plans to fund and staff its work.

Vogt said the US Doge Service (described in testimony as the successor to the U.S. Digital Service) was moved out of OMB into the Executive Office of the President, reporting to the chief of staff. \"The US Doge Service was the former USDS, US digital service that was housed within OMB,\" Vogt said. \"With that EO, it was moved out of OMB into the executive office of the president as a stand alone office reporting to the chief of staff.\" He told members Steve Davis had led the office and that leadership roles were being finalized.

On funding, Vogt said the FY26 request includes an increase in the ITOR (Information Technology and Operations Resourcing) account to support Doge work and agency technology modernization. He described many Doge employees as embedded at agencies functioning as in‑house consultants and said the administration seeks to institutionalize that support either within the Executive Office or at agencies.

Members asked for details about the share of ITOR that would support workforce initiatives versus software modernization. Vogt replied that the ITOR request reflects Doge priorities and acknowledged the office was still being organized.

The subcommittee did not take action on the organizational changes; members asked for follow-up documents clarifying leadership, reporting relationships, and budget breakdowns for the ITOR request.","Members pressed Director Russ Vogt about an executive order that moves the former U.S. Digital Service into a reconstituted \"US Doge Service\" reporting to the White House chief of staff; Vogt said leadership is being finalized and OMB asked for ITOR account funds to support institutionalizing the office's consulting work.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6215459,"OMB requests staff increases as part of FY26 budget; members press for full budget details",1074,1016000,2090000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3659404-39127fcb7e85945adb744051e1635b9d&start=1016&end=2090","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3659404-39127fcb7e85945adb744051e1635b9d/thumbnail_1016000.jpg","/articles/6215459/OMB-requests-staff-increases-as-part-of-FY26-budget-members-press-for-full-budget-details","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6215459-8c5d717c080e5f62adc96935c0222deb/orig.mp4?Expires=1774794260&Signature=AOf~lLj67krQsx8i927tT8Do0OmnZwrxHldXcWa8-5gOrAasnAA1aEXvAVjq3AdP8WA~4wD5-xA-8CzSnP8ekzxIAy0U-Akt5up3yCirsel4U0lSy3i8D9pdHHjYNALev1xEkjtCn5r1gxtMYL7UyTYxMn~sV68Orb~c86Dq54IpZk~K7ECQWMh729siWxkF0NMXgc0dcIbCgqixSBAhM5jjEn8ArMtV41zy3cjb~EjAbXXpi73GJLMx1s5jseEYWjY-IBf5htxuJEYpD5vPMv~1TJYq~0fYbyDTK9XuZX-VcHe5y5~ZWkXs3chPV0FeZo-GXt4vKTS2Y-Pq3qFFNg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","WASHINGTON — Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vogt told the House Appropriations Subcommittee that OMB's fiscal year 2026 budget request includes a 13.3% increase over FY25 and a request for additional staff to handle a growing workload.

Vogt said OMB requested $146,100,000 for FY26 — a figure he described as a 13.3% increase over its FY25 enacted level — and asked Congress to approve roughly 20 new full-time equivalents to raise OMB’s staffing from about 500 to 520 employees. \"We've held constant for many, many years at the 500 level even though the size of government has increased,\" he said, arguing the agency needs more analysts to cover growing program complexity.

Members questioned why the White House had not provided a full 10-year budget and why some detailed documents were being held until reconciliation was complete. Rep. Womack and others pressed Vogt for a complete set of budget materials to support upcoming appropriations markups; Vogt replied that the administration had prioritized reconciliation and would provide supplementary materials after that process moves forward.

The hearing also included broader budget claims from the administration: Vogt described the president’s fiscal strategy as reducing nondefense discretionary spending and pursuing mandatory-savings proposals in pending legislation. He said the president’s FY26 request pairs agency-level adjustments with the administration’s larger fiscal proposals.

No committee action was taken on the OMB request; the testimony was part of the subcommittee’s oversight and review before markups. Members said they expect additional budget justifications, appendices and agency-level documentation to be transmitted to appropriations staff in the coming weeks.","Director Russ Vogt asked Congress for increased OMB funding and 20 additional FTEs in FY26; committee members pressed for a full, multi-year budget and questioned the administration's timeline for delivering comprehensive budget documents.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6215464,"OMB director defends rescissions and apportionment practices as members accuse agency of impoundment",1837,3282000,5119000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3659404-39127fcb7e85945adb744051e1635b9d&start=3282&end=5119","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3659404-39127fcb7e85945adb744051e1635b9d/thumbnail_3282000.jpg","/articles/6215464/OMB-director-defends-rescissions-and-apportionment-practices-as-members-accuse-agency-of-impoundment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6215464-4d8707401a77c5ece58d087f9fdcf238/orig.mp4?Expires=1774794260&Signature=P6405PD0uwrccGLVHgLiKzTYbBaJ9-X3smsPsigG~WCq2Nz-Cc~1oVinTohTuQdUzNUALYObIlKGcSU2WtFsEjdZBmPLjKiExb6IH-v2n7JFc6afXRQkyEalKX4ETTmH5mcnnghAG8ZtebjOf5dgwqpYQxp25-wO8rqJzBHy6byJDYEsR56rh5pNIQQmOXEgIehFV-1Uq~NUwHiCzmY5jpuJ3LlkujJKaVtj79tH0LGmcgRe0ypEXplLHpMnYPYpkFT3WmVgGd2dlzR05H4vgAOBtrHPzUz~1IpGkZp9YhipjoDXRKfy0Fov72~hhXXDAXVt6ZpTQHhqhNpnG3e6yw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","WASHINGTON — Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vogt told the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government that OMB is exercising statutory tools such as rescissions and deferrals to review federal spending, while members of the committee said those actions amount to unlawful impoundment.

\"We are under programmatic review of federal dollars across the state,\" Vogt said when pressed about agency decisions to hold or reclaim funds. He told the panel that OMB uses tools under what he called the ICA — citing rescissions, deferrals and pocket rescissions — as part of managing appropriated funds and executive-branch priorities.

Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro sharply disputed that account. \"You are unlawfully impounding or stealing congressionally appropriated funds,\" she told Vogt, citing court rulings and the Constitutional provision that places the power of the purse with Congress. DeLauro referenced judicial decisions — including the Supreme Court's Train v. City of New York — and said courts have rebuked executive impoundment in recent litigation.

The exchange came as Vogt described a rescission package the administration transmitted to Capitol Hill: a $9.4 billion package of proposed rescissions that the White House said targets programs the administration considers wasteful or not aligned with its priorities. Vogt told members the package was drafted with committee staff and that the administration will submit additional packages if the first is well received in Congress.

Several members pressed Vogt about apportionment transparency. Representative DeLauro reminded the director that Congress enacted apportionment-visibility reforms after long debate and questioned why the public apportionment website had been taken down. Vogt replied that the administration had \"constitutional concerns\" about the statutory requirement and characterized apportionments as \"predecisional\" and part of executive branch management.

Committee members on both sides warned of consequences. Democrats said that blocking or delaying apportionments and other post-appropriation controls deprives Congress and watchdogs of information; Republicans emphasized the need to restrain spending and recover funds they view as misallocated.

The subcommittee did not hold a vote; the hearing was for oversight and questioning. Vogt said OMB would continue to work with appropriation committees and that any rescissions would be considered by Congress.

What happens next: the House and Senate will consider the administration's rescission package; members also signaled they may seek additional documents and depositions in follow-up oversight. The legal argument over the executive branch's latitude to withhold or rescind spending is likely to remain active in court and on the Hill.","At a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing, Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vogt defended OMB's use of rescissions, deferrals and apportionments and the agency's recent rescission package, while Democrats accused OMB of unlawfully impounding congressionally appropriated funds and removing transparency tools from public view.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Lawmakers press OMB on improper payments and plans for pre‑award precertification

Debate over reconciliation bill, mandatory savings and Medicaid work requirements surfaces at OMB hearing

Hearing details move of "US Doge Service" to White House and OMB request for IT modernization funds

OMB requests staff increases as part of FY26 budget; members press for full budget details

OMB director defends rescissions and apportionment practices as members accuse agency of impoundment