GORAC Act of 2025 Government Office Realignment And Closure Act of 2025
Impact
If implemented, HB824 would have significant implications for federal operations. By mandating regular evaluations, the bill aims to ensure the effective use of taxpayer funds and eliminate inefficiencies across government. The results of these evaluations could lead to the consolidation of agencies and the elimination of functions deemed unnecessary. Moreover, any savings realized from these reforms would be directed towards paying down the national debt, adding a fiscal responsibility element to the bill's objectives. This could lead to a notable shift in how federal budgets are prioritized and spent.
Summary
House Bill 824, known as the Government Office Realignment And Closure Act of 2025 (GORAC), aims to require the evaluation of federal agencies and programs to identify duplicative, wasteful, or outdated functions. This evaluation process would be overseen by the Comptroller General, who would conduct an assessment within one year of the bill's enactment and every ten years thereafter. The intent is to streamline federal operations by eliminating or realigning agencies and programs that no longer meet their objectives or that unnecessarily drain federal resources.
Contention
However, the bill does raise concerns regarding its impact on governmental functions. Critics may argue that the evaluation process, especially when involving non-federal auditors, could compromise the integrity of federal programs through external influences. Additionally, the potential downsizing of federal agencies might lead to significant job losses or destabilize vital services that communities rely on. The discussion around HB824 is expected to explore these points of contention in depth, as stakeholders weigh the benefits of efficiency against the possible negative consequences of reduced federal presence in key areas.
Government Office Realignment And Closure Act of 2023 or the GORAC Act This bill directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to provide for an independent evaluation of federal agencies and programs to identify duplicative, wasteful, or outdated functions and provides for congressional consideration of legislation to implement recommendations from the evaluation. Specifically, the GAO must (1) procure the services of a nonfederal auditor to evaluate each federal program carried out in the previous 20 years, make recommendations on federal agencies and programs that should be realigned or eliminated, and report on such recommendations; and (2) take steps to assure that any work performed by such auditor complies with standards established by the GAO for audits of federal establishments, programs, activities, and functions. The GAO must provide for the relocation of federal employees whose positions are eliminated as a result of the implementation of recommendations included in the report.
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