The Data Act is About to Shake Up Federal Operations

Legislation aimed at dramatically increasing the transparency of federal spending data is on its way to President Obama’s desk after the House voted to approve a Senate-passed version of the bill.

The Digital Accountability and Transparency Act, or DATA Act, will mandate uniform coding for federal spending, so federal officials, lawmakers and watchdogs can track particular types of spending from one agency to another. The legislation, which was modeled on spending transparency measures implemented with president Obama’s 2009 stimulus bill, will also give federal contractors and grantees a single portal to report how they’re spending taxpayer money.