Published on February 18, 2025
This presidential memorandum mandates federal agencies to publicly disclose details of all terminated programs, cancelled contracts, and discontinued funding obligations. The stated purpose is to promote transparency around government spending and eliminate wasteful expenditures that allegedly don't serve American interests, particularly targeting what it describes as "ideological projects" and "passion projects of unelected bureaucrats."
While presented as a transparency initiative, this action could serve as a tool for political retribution and control over the bureaucracy. The broad discretionary power given to agency heads to determine what constitutes "appropriate" disclosure, combined with phrases like "ideological projects" and "undermining national interest," suggests this policy could be used to selectively expose and discredit programs that don't align with the administration's political agenda. The focus on terminated programs rather than all spending suggests this is more about justifying cuts than promoting genuine fiscal transparency.
While increased transparency in government spending is generally beneficial, this memorandum's selective approach and vague criteria for disclosure suggest its primary purpose may be to provide political cover for defunding targeted programs while strengthening executive control over federal agencies. The public should be aware that this "transparency" initiative might actually serve as a mechanism for political messaging rather than genuine fiscal accountability.
MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES SUBJECT: Radical Transparency About Wasteful Spending The United States Government spends too much money on programs, contracts, and grants that do not promote the interests of the American people. For too long, taxpayers have subsidized ideological projects overseas and domestic organizations engaged in actions that undermine the national interest. The American people have seen their tax dollars used to fund the passion projects of unelected bureaucrats rather than to advance the national interest. The American people have a right to see how the Federal Government has wasted their hard-earned wages. I therefore direct the heads of executive departments and agencies (agencies) to take all appropriate actions to make public, to the maximum extent permitted by law and as the heads of agencies deem appropriate to promote the policies of my Administration, the complete details of every terminated program, cancelled contract, terminated grant, or any other discontinued obligation of Federal funds. Agencies shall ensure that such publication occurs in accordance with all applicable laws, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the underlying contract, grant, or other award.