Bipartisan Ernst bill to cut waste in federal programs signed into law

Bipartisan legislation led by U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) to eliminate waste and safeguard taxpayer dollars through streamlined management of federal government programs was signed into law on Friday by President Barack Obama.

The Program Management Improvement and Accountability Act, which Ernst introduced with U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), establishes a leader within each federal agency to focus on program management. It also creates a Program Management Council to review agency programs and promote inter-agency communication.

“Iowans sent me to Washington with a mission to make the federal government less wasteful and more efficient, and the passage of this legislation is an important step in doing just that,” Ernst said.

“The Program Management Improvement and Accountability Act reduces cost overruns and increases accountability to create a more productive government through better management procedures. I am pleased we were able to make meaningful progress in safeguarding our taxpayers’ hard-earned tax dollars, and remain committed to continuing to look for new ways to eliminate waste,” she said.

The measure requires the creation of a specific job category for qualified project managers and the adoption of program management best practices and standards.

“Our bipartisan bill becoming law is a win for accountability and transparency,” Heitkamp said. “It’s an important step for North Dakota communities and businesses that rely on federal programs, whether in agriculture, energy or beyond.”

The Government Accountability Office will report on the measure’s overall effectiveness and the specific impact of program management in three years.