PSI Sci
New here? Follow the money and the votes · Not sure of your district? Find your U.S. House member · Find your state legislators

Before you vote › Federal bills

S. 5185: Audit the Pentagon Act

119th Congress · introduced 2026-07-30 · Armed Forces and National Security · Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

federal

What does this mean?

Official title

Audit the Pentagon Act

Plain summary

Audit the Pentagon Act This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to reduce spending for any department, agency, or other DOD element that DOD determines has not achieved an unqualified opinion on its full financial statements for the calendar year ending during that fiscal year. (An unqualified opinio n or clean audit means an auditor has determined the financial statements are presented fairly and provide a true view of an entity’s financial position.) Specifically, the amount available to such department, agency, or element for the fiscal year when the determination is made must be reduced by 2%. Amounts unavailable to such department, agency, or element must be applied on a pro rata basis against each program, project, and activity. DOD must deposit such unavailable amounts in the general fund of the Department of the Treasury for purposes of deficit reduction.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Audit the Pentagon Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

No AI explanation yet. It takes up to a minute to write and is then saved for everyone.

Limited to a few requests an hour per person.

The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Arguments against (opponents)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Alternatives

Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT] · 13 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Cory A. Booker (D-NJ), Tina Smith (D-MN), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Mike Lee (R-UT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Rand Paul (R-KY), Christopher Murphy (D-CT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ)

Sponsor's campaign money: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT] reported raising $26.5 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Words on this page, explained (2)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Fiscal year
The 12-month period a government uses for its budget. The federal fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30 and is named for the calendar year in which it ends. Most states use July 1 to June 30.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong119-s5185 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong119 · updated 2026-11-03 by psicol fed-bills