Des Moines Sun

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has released $5 million to the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC), enabling the committee to continue its operations through the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2026. The funding decision comes after Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), who chair the Senate Judiciary and Appropriations Committees, sent a letter to OMB Director Russell Vought earlier in the week requesting that funds be provided for PRAC and the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE).

In a joint statement, Grassley and Collins said, “We are pleased that following our outreach, OMB has decided to release funds that will allow PRAC to remain operational and continue its vital oversight work. This funding ensures that PRAC can keep its staff in place to continue providing the transparency and accountability that taxpayers deserve. While this is a positive step, OMB should promptly apportion funds for CIGIE as well, consistent with congressional intent.”

PRAC was created under the 2020 CARES Act by Congress as part of CIGIE to oversee government actions related to emergency pandemic response. Its authorization was extended this year as part of new tax legislation for 2025, which also expanded its jurisdiction.