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Witness outlines four reforms to improve transparency and accountability for federal benefit programs
Summary
Rachel Gresler presented four reforms to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse in federal benefit programs: stricter spending tracking, closing eligibility loopholes, consistent measurement of improper payments, and expanding state accountability through cost-sharing or disqualification.
Rachel Gresler told the committee she recommends four reforms to establish "radical transparency and meaningful accountability" for federal benefit spending: (1) "follow the money" by tracking federal outlays with the same rigor used for revenues; (2) close broad-based categorical eligibility loopholes; (3) require consistent measurement of improper payments and data sharing by benefit distributors; and (4) expand "skin in the game" accountability so distributors face consequences for excessive improper payments.
She urged Congress to require all distributors of federal benefits to comply with federal measurement standards and data requests and said failure to comply "should trigger cost sharing or disqualification from distributing benefits." Gresler emphasized that without consequences, she expects laws designed to protect taxpayer dollars will fail and suggested extending HR 1-style provisions across other programs.
