Make Transportation Authorities Accountable and Transparent Act
Term Dictionary
If you come across any unfamiliar words while reading, these resources can help make everything clearer. Pick whichever one works best for you!
- Congress.gov Legislative Glossary - Comprehensive congressional terms
- NVFC Congressional Terms Glossary - Concise, easy-to-understand definitions
Summary
New bill orders an audit of how America's five largest transit systems spent federal money over the past five years. The Department of Transportation's inspector general must examine COVID relief funds and regular transit funding received by top agencies like New York's MTA, showing Congress exactly where the money went within 180 days.
Overview
- Requires Department of Transportation Inspector General to audit the 5 largest U.S. transit agencies based on 2019 ridership
- Examines federal funding received during the 5 fiscal years before bill becomes law
- Status: Introduced January 3, 2025; referred to House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, then to Subcommittee on Highways and Transit
Who does this affect?
- Main groups: Top 5 transit agencies by ridership (likely NYC MTA, LA Metro, Chicago CTA, Washington Metro, Boston MBTA), Department of Transportation Inspector General, Congress
- Who benefits: Taxpayers and Congress gain transparency on how billions in transit funding were spent; agencies face scrutiny
- Teen impact score: 3/10 (symbolic oversight with no direct changes to transit services teens use)
What This Bill Does
- Inspector General must audit funds from Chapter 53 of Title 49 U.S.C. (standard federal transit programs) plus four COVID relief laws: Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act 2020, CARES Act, Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021, American Rescue Plan Act 2021
- Audit must detail total amounts received under each law and describe how agencies spent the money
- Report deadline: 180 days after bill enactment
- Targets "specified transit agencies": the 5 entities with most unlinked passenger trips in calendar year 2019 per National Transit Database
Legislative Status
- Introduced in House on January 3, 2025 by Rep. Malliotakis and Rep. Gottheimer
- Referred to Subcommittee on Highways and Transit on January 4, 2025
In short
- Orders official audit of top 5 U.S. transit systems' federal spending over last 5 years
- Inspector General must show Congress amounts received and how money was used
- Focuses on COVID relief funds and regular transit program funding
- Report due within 6 months of bill becoming law
- Aims to increase accountability for billions in taxpayer dollars
Why should I care?
Public transit agencies received massive federal funding during COVID to keep buses and trains running when ridership collapsed. This bill checks whether that money was spent wisely or wasted. If audits find problems—like agencies hoarding cash or spending on non-essentials while cutting service—it could affect future transit funding and service quality. For anyone who rides buses or subways in major cities, transit agency budgets shape whether routes get expanded or cut, whether fares go up, and whether stations stay clean and safe.