H.R. 231 – Public Service Spending Integrity Act

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Updated February 7, 2026 at 9:12 PM UTC

The Public Service Spending Integrity Act aims to stop high‑level government officials and their families from profiting from federal money. It bars the use of federal funds to buy goods or services from businesses owned or controlled by the President, Vice President, cabinet‑level officials, or their immediate family members, and it prohibits executive agencies from contracting with those businesses. The rule applies to all federal spending beginning fiscal year 2021.

Key Provisions

Federal funds cannot be obligated or spent to procure goods or services from businesses owned or controlled by covered individuals or their family members, except if authorized under the Presidential Protection Assistance Act of 1976.
Executive agencies may not enter into or maintain contracts with businesses owned or controlled by covered individuals or their family members.
A business is considered owned or controlled if the individual is on its board, directly or indirectly holds more than 50% of voting shares, or is a beneficiary of a trust that controls more than 50% of the business.
"Covered individual" includes the President, Vice President, heads of executive departments, and any person in a President‑designated cabinet‑level position.
"Family member" includes spouses, parents, children and their spouses, siblings and their spouses, grandparents, grandchildren, domestic partners, and the parents of those relatives.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

January 6, 2021

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 6, 2021

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

January 6, 2021

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued January 6, 2021

I

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 231

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 6, 2021

Mr. Ruiz introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform

A BILL

To prevent the enrichment of certain Government officers and employees or their families through Federal funds or contracting, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title; findings

(a)

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Public Service Spending Integrity Act.

(b)

Findings

Congress finds the following:

(1)

Americans’ trust in government is essential to our democracy.

(2)

Allowing public service by an elected official to seemingly converge with their own personal gain is corrosive to Americans’ faith in government.

(3)

Members of Congress and the executive branch have substantial power and discretion over the disbursement of public funds, and with that comes the obligation to create a barrier between public service and personal gain.

2.

Limitation on use of Federal funds and contracting at businesses owned by certain Government officers and employees

(a)

Limitation on Federal funds

Beginning in fiscal year 2021 and in each fiscal year thereafter, no Federal funds may be obligated or expended for purposes of procuring goods or services at any business owned or controlled by a covered individual or any family member of such an individual, unless such obligation or expenditure of funds is authorized under the Presidential Protection Assistance Act of 1976 (Public Law 94–524).

(b)

Prohibition on contracts

No Executive agency may enter into or hold a contract with a business owned or controlled by a covered individual or any family member of such an individual.

(c)

Determination of ownership

For purposes of this section, a business shall be deemed to be owned or controlled by a covered individual or any family member of such an individual if the covered individual or member of family (as the case may be)—

(1)

is a member of the board of directors or similar governing body of the business;

(2)

directly or indirectly owns or controls more than 50 percent of the voting shares of the business; or

(3)

is the beneficiary of a trust which owns or controls more than 50 percent of the business and can direct distributions under the terms of the trust.

(d)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Covered individual

The term covered individual means—

(A)

the President;

(B)

the Vice President;

(C)

the head of any Executive department (as that term is defined in section 101 of title 5, United States Code); and

(D)

any individual occupying a position designated by the President as a Cabinet-level position.

(2)

Family member

The term family member means an individual with any of the following relationships to a covered individual:

(A)

Spouse, and parents thereof.

(B)

Sons and daughters, and spouses thereof.

(C)

Parents, and spouses thereof.

(D)

Brothers and sisters, and spouses thereof.

(E)

Grandparents and grandchildren, and spouses thereof.

(F)

Domestic partner and parents thereof, including domestic partners of any individual in paragraphs (2) through (5).

(3)

Executive agency

The term Executive agency has the meaning given that term in section 105 of title 5, United States Code.