FAST ACT
How the FAST Act Works
The Federal Budget Accountability and State Transparency Act (FAST Act) is not about federal overreach—it’s about restoring the rightful authority of the people. For too long, Illinois residents have been locked out of the budgeting process, as unelected bureaucrats and partisan insiders push through massive state budgets with minimal transparency or public input.
This legislation returns Illinoisans—and taxpayers across the country—to the helm of a system that has too often gone rogue.
What It Requires
Budget Transparency
States must publish the full text of their proposed budgets, including all appropriations and capital expenditures, at least 72 hours before any legislative vote—no more midnight votes or last-minute spending deals.Plain-Language Budget Summaries
States must also publish a clear, accessible summary (minimum 500 words) explaining how federal dollars will be used, where the money is going, and what outcomes are expected—so everyday citizens can understand and engage.Mandatory Public Hearings
At least one public hearing must be held specifically about the use of federal funds—both in-person and virtually—to ensure that working families and concerned citizens have a voice in how their money is spent. Transcripts and public comments must be posted online.
Annual Reporting
States must submit an annual report to the U.S. Comptroller General that includes:
A full breakdown of federal fund allocation by agency and program
A comparison between projected and actual expenditures
A summary of public input and how the state responded
Consequences for Noncompliance
States that fail to meet these standards will lose eligibility for discretionary federal grants from the:
Department of Commerce
Department of Transportation
Department of Education
This ensures that accountability is not just encouraged—it’s enforced.
Why It Matters
The FAST Act is a check on power, not an expansion of it. It protects the taxpayer, not the bureaucracy. It places everyday citizens—not political machines—at the center of the process.
Illinoisans deserve transparency. They deserve to know where their money is going. And they deserve to have a say.
