U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs said on April 27 that he introduced the Taxpayers Resources Used in Emergencies (TRUE) Accountability Act, a bipartisan bill designed to require agencies to develop plans to prevent fraud during emergencies or crises.
According to Government Accountability Office estimates based on data from fiscal years 2018 through 2022, the federal government loses between $233 billion and $521 billion annually to fraud. The losses occur through false claims, ineligible recipients and other schemes across multiple programs. These figures highlight challenges in protecting taxpayer resources, especially during emergencies when spending increases rapidly.
“I introduced the Taxpayers Resources Used in Emergencies (TRUE) Accountability Act – a bipartisan piece of legislation to require agencies to develop plans to prevent fraud during an emergency or crisis. American taxpayers deserve to know that government agencies are committed to wisely stewarding their dollars – not allowing the funds to be stolen by fraudulent entities,” Biggs wrote on X.
The TRUE Accountability Act directs agencies to incorporate two specific Government Accountability Office reports into their planning for emergencies or crises in order to better manage fraud risks. The measure is scheduled for markup in the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform this week before advancing to the full House, according to a congressional press release.
Federal agencies reported an estimated $186 billion in improper payments across programs in fiscal year 2025, marking an increase from the prior year. Cumulative improper payment estimates since 2003 have reached about $2.8 trillion, with significant portions tied to emergency and relief efforts. The TRUE Accountability Act seeks to apply lessons from past experiences by mandating upfront fraud prevention planning in future crisis responses, according to a Government Accountability Office report.
Biggs has represented Arizona’s Fifth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2017 and previously served as Arizona Senate President after 14 years in the state legislature. He earned degrees from Brigham Young University, Arizona State University, and the University of Arizona, according to his official biography.
