Tillis bill would permit Congress to regularly decide fate of federal agencies

U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) on May 13 unveiled GOP-led legislation to create a review process that enables Congress to routinely evaluate the efficiency of and need for federal agencies.

Sen. Tillis signed on as an original cosponsor of the Agency Accountability Act, S. 3708, with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), to allow Congress to help streamline federal operations and to reduce waste at federal agencies, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Tillis’ office. No such mechanism currently exists.

“It is imperative that the federal government take steps to streamline its operations as our national debt grows to unprecedented levels,” Sen. Tillis said. “The Agency Accountability Act does just that and provides an opportunity to examine and possibly restructure federal agencies so American taxpayers receive the highest possible service.”

If enacted, S. 3708 would create a 13-member bipartisan commission, appointed by the U.S. Speaker of the House and the U.S. Senate Majority Leader, with a single appointee by the president, to regularly review operations of federal agencies and commissions, the summary says.

The commission, which would review each federal agency at least once every six years, also would be tasked to review and evaluate the efficiency and public need for each agency using specified criteria; recommend whether each agency should be abolished or reorganized; and report to Congress on introduced legislation that would establish a new agency or a new program, or reorganize a current agency or program, according to the text of the bill.

Additionally, the proposed commission “may hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission considers advisable to carry out this Act,” according to the bill’s text.