Published on February 18, 2025
This presidential action mandates federal agencies to publicly disclose details of all terminated programs, cancelled contracts, and discontinued funding, ostensibly to promote transparency regarding government spending. The directive frames current government spending as wasteful and ideologically driven, particularly highlighting overseas projects and domestic organizations that allegedly work against national interests.
While presented as a transparency initiative, this action could serve as a powerful tool for political retribution and control. The broad discretionary power given to agency heads to determine what information to release "as they deem appropriate" creates a mechanism to selectively expose and potentially embarrass political opponents or uncooperative organizations. The emphasis on "ideological projects" and "passion projects of unelected bureaucrats" suggests this could be weaponized to target specific programs or organizations that don't align with the administration's political agenda.
While increased transparency in government spending is generally beneficial, this directive's selective implementation and politically charged language suggests it may serve more as a mechanism for political control than genuine fiscal accountability. The public should carefully monitor how this authority is exercised and whether disclosures are being used equitably or as a tool for political leverage.
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.