Cross-Program Antifraud Training

Summary#

This bill would create a government-wide training program on detecting and preventing fraud and improper payments in Federal programs. It makes that training mandatory for many federal employees who run or oversee programs, and it makes the training available to state, local, territorial, and Tribal employees who administer federal funds. The goal is to reduce fraud and improper payments by giving staff shared standards, tools, and certification.

• Main change: requires a Federal antifraud and improper payment prevention training program run by Treasury and OMB, with OPM handling certification and records.
• Who must take it: federal program administrators, program officers, financial managers, certifying officials, auditors, grants managers, and similar oversight staff.
• Availability to non-federal staff: Treasury must make the training available to state, local, territorial, and Tribal administrators and offer technical help; agencies may require it as a grant condition.
• Timing and refresher: covered employees must complete the training within 180 days of appointment (or 180 days after the law takes effect for current employees) and at least once every 2 years after that.
• Reporting and oversight: Treasury and OMB must report to Congress starting two years after enactment and then annually on participation and the program’s effectiveness.
• Funding: authorizes $5,000,000 per year starting in fiscal year 2027 for the Bureau of the Fiscal Service to run the program.
• Effective date: most provisions start 180 days after the law is enacted.

What it means for you#

• Federal employees who oversee programs (program administrators, financial managers, auditors, grants managers, certifying officials):

  • You must complete this antifraud training within 180 days of taking a covered position (or within 180 days after the law starts if you already hold the job).
  • You must repeat the training at least every two years.
  • Your agency must track and certify your completion.

• Agency leaders and human resources offices:

  • You must ensure covered employees complete the training on schedule.
  • You must work with OPM’s certification system to keep records.
  • You may need to adjust staff schedules so employees can take the training.

• State, local, territorial, and Tribal governments that administer federal funds:

  • Treasury must make the training available and offer technical help to integrate it.
  • Federal agencies may require completion of this training as a condition of receiving grants or awards; if so, local administrators may have to take it.

• Taxpayers and the general public:

  • The bill aims to lower fraud and improper payments by improving staff skills and using shared tools and guidance across governments.
  • Any direct benefit depends on how well the training is designed and used.

• Everyone involved in payments and eligibility checks:

  • The curriculum includes use of Do Not Pay and other Treasury systems, data analytics, NIST identity guidance, GAO fraud risk framework, and OMB Circular A-123.

Expenses#

Estimated public cost: The bill authorizes $5,000,000 per year starting in fiscal year 2027 for the Bureau of the Fiscal Service to carry out the program; no further official cost estimate is included in the bill text.

• Authorized funding: $5,000,000 per year for the Bureau of the Fiscal Service (authorization to be appropriated).
• Other government costs not estimated: agencies will likely incur administrative costs to enroll staff, track completion, and adjust operations; OPM must run a certification system; Treasury must provide technical assistance to non-federal partners.
• Potential costs for state/local/Tribal entities: if completion is required as a grant condition, local administrators may spend staff time and resources to complete the training. The bill does not state whether the training will be free for non-federal participants.
• No detailed fiscal note: the bill text does not include a full cost estimate for agency implementation or long-term savings from reduced improper payments.

Proponents' View#

• The bill appears intended to create consistent, government-wide training so employees who run federal programs know how to spot and prevent fraud and improper payments.
• This could be seen as improving coordination by teaching staff to use shared tools (for example, Do Not Pay and federal data-sharing tools) and established guidance (GAO framework, OMB Circular A-123).
• Making the training available to state, local, territorial, and Tribal administrators could help reduce improper payments across all levels of government that handle federal funds.
• Regular recertification (every two years) could keep staff up to date on new risks and tools.
• Reporting to Congress on participation and effectiveness could allow lawmakers to track progress and make further changes.

Opponents' View#

• One concern is that the bill does not provide a full fiscal estimate for implementing the program across agencies, so actual costs and staffing needs are unclear beyond the $5 million authorization.
• The bill may create extra work for agencies and program staff (time to take training, recordkeeping, and follow-up) without clear details on training length or delivery method.
• It is unclear whether existing agency trainings will count, or whether some employees will have to repeat similar content already provided by their agency.
• If agencies require the training as a grant condition, state, local, and Tribal administrators could face uneven requirements and added compliance burden; the bill does not specify if non-federal participants must be offered the training for free.
• The bill requires Treasury and OMB to report on “effectiveness,” but it does not define how to measure reductions in fraud or improper payments, leaving the assessment method unclear.