Bill Summary
The "No Self-Promotion with Public Dollars Act" is legislation aimed at ensuring that taxpayer funds are not misused by Cabinet Members and senior executive political appointees for personal or political gain. Specifically, the Act prohibits these officials from hiring political consulting, advertising, and marketing firms using public funds, particularly if they have a financial relationship with those firms. It also mandates adherence to competitive bidding processes for official advertisements, ensuring transparency and fairness. Additionally, the Act prohibits the use of official advertisements for self-promotion, thereby reinforcing the principle that government resources should be used solely for communicating policy priorities rather than advancing individual careers. The legislation seeks to prevent conflicts of interest and enhance accountability in the use of public funds.
Possible Impacts
Here are three examples of how the "No Self-Promotion with Public Dollars Act" could affect people:
1. **Increased Accountability of Public Officials**: The legislation would hold Cabinet Members and senior executive political appointees accountable for their use of taxpayer funds. This could result in more responsible government spending, as officials would be less likely to use public money for personal gain or self-promotion. Consequently, citizens may see a reduction in misleading or politically motivated advertisements funded by taxpayers, potentially increasing trust in government institutions.
2. **Impact on Political Consulting and Advertising Firms**: The prohibition on hiring political consulting and advertising firms could lead to a decrease in business opportunities for these companies, especially those that specialize in government contracts. As a result, employees and stakeholders in these firms might experience reduced revenue and job security. Conversely, firms that focus on non-political consulting might gain opportunities as government contracts shift toward more neutral service providers.
3. **Changes in Government Communication Strategies**: The requirement for a competitive open bidding process for official advertisements may lead to more diverse and innovative communication strategies within the government. This could benefit the public by ensuring that government messages are crafted and disseminated by firms selected through fair competition, leading to potentially higher quality and more effective communication regarding government policies and initiatives. However, it may also slow down the process of producing official advertisements, leading to delays in public information campaigns.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4128 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4128
To prohibit Cabinet Members and senior executive political appointees
from using taxpayer funds to hire political consulting, advertising,
and marketing firms, from expediting competitive open bidding processes
to contract for official advertisements, and from using official
advertisements for self-promotion.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 18, 2026
Ms. Rosen introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To prohibit Cabinet Members and senior executive political appointees
from using taxpayer funds to hire political consulting, advertising,
and marketing firms, from expediting competitive open bidding processes
to contract for official advertisements, and from using official
advertisements for self-promotion.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``No Self-Promotion with Public
Dollars Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Cabinet member.--The term ``Cabinet Member'' means--
(A) an individual serving in a position at level I
of the Executive Schedule under section 5312 of title
5, United States Code; and
(B) any other individual who occupies a position
designated by the President as a Cabinet-level
position.
(2) Financial relationship.--The term ``financial
relationship'' means any relationship in which financial
compensation is derived directly or indirectly from a pecuniary
interest.
(3) Official advertisement.--The term ``official
advertisement'' means an advertisement sponsored by the
executive branch to communicate any policy priority of a
Government entity, including of a Federal agency or department
or a presidential administration.
(4) Political advertising and marketing firm.--The term
``political advertising and marketing firm'' means a
professional business that is eligible for a contract with the
Government that is dedicated to the creation and execution of
promotional materials and marketing for the clients of the
business, including the Government.
(5) Political consulting firm.--The term ``political
consulting firm'' means a professional services company that is
eligible for a contract with the Government to provide advice,
feedback, strategy, and skills.
(6) Senior executive political appointee.--The term
``senior executive political appointee'' means an individual
who is--
(A) employed in a position described in sections
5312 through 5316 of title 5, United States Code
(relating to the Executive Schedule);
(B) a limited term appointee, limited emergency
appointee, or noncareer appointee in the Senior
Executive Service, as defined under paragraphs (5),
(6), and (7), respectively, of section 3132(a) of title
5, United States Code; or
(C) employed in a position of a confidential or
policy-determining character under schedule C of
subpart C of part 213 of title 5, Code of Federal
Regulations, or any successor regulation.
(7) Special government employee.--The term ``special
Government employee'' means a special Government employee, as
defined in section 202(a) of title 18, United States Code, who
is employed in the executive branch.
SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON TAXPAYER-FUNDED POLITICAL CONSULTING FIRMS AND
POLITICAL ADVERTISING AND MARKETING FIRMS.
A Cabinet Member may not use any funds authorized or appropriated
by Federal law to hire a political consulting firm or political
advertising and marketing firm to develop and disseminate any official
advertisement relating to the position of the Cabinet Member, the
agency or department of which the Cabinet Member is the head, or the
official duties of the Cabinet Member if--
(1) the Cabinet Member is an officer or employee of the
political consulting firm or political advertising and
marketing firm;
(2) the Cabinet Member has a financial relationship with
the political consulting firm or political advertising and
marketing firm; or
(3) any senior executive political appointee or special
Government employee who reports to the Cabinet Member or who is
employed by the agency or department of which the Cabinet
Member is the head has a financial relationship with the
political consulting firm or political advertising and
marketing firm.
SEC. 4. PROHIBITION ON EXPEDITING OPEN BIDDING FOR OFFICIAL
ADVERTISEMENTS.
Except as otherwise provided by existing Federal law, a Cabinet
Member shall, when entering into a contract for an official
advertisement, comply with all applicable requirements related to the
full and open competitive procedures required under chapter 33 of title
41, United States Code, and part 6 of the Federal Acquisition
Regulation.
SEC. 5. PROHIBITION ON SELF-PROMOTION THROUGH OFFICIAL ADVERTISEMENTS.
A Cabinet Member may not use any official advertisement for the
primary purpose of self-promotion.
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