Strengthening Agency Management and Oversight of Software Assets Act

This bill pushes federal agencies to get a clear picture of all the software they pay for and use, cut waste, and improve how these tools work together. Agencies must complete a full inventory within 18 months that flags unused licenses, extra cloud fees, and contract rules that limit how software can be used or who owns the data. Using that inventory, each agency must create a plan to consolidate licenses, use smarter buying (like enterprise licenses), limit one-off software purchases without approval, automate license tracking, and train staff so they buy and build software more wisely. Oversight groups will set common standards and report back with ways to boost interoperability, reduce costs, and improve performance across government. There is no new funding authorized for this work.

Key points

• Who: Federal agencies and their Chief Information Officers; the intelligence community follows a separate, protected process.
• What changes:
  • Do a complete software inventory, including costs, unused items, and restrictions on use or data access.
  • Create a plan to consolidate licenses, adopt cost‑effective buying, curb ad‑hoc purchases, automate license management, and train staff; consider moving to enterprise or open‑source options when it saves money and improves service.
  • Allow contract help with safeguards against conflicts of interest and require independent work by those contractors.
  • Set government‑wide standards and guidance to improve interoperability and reduce costs; GAO will review progress.
• When:
  • Inventory due within 18 months of enactment; then it must be sent to oversight bodies within 30 days of completion.
  • Agency plan due within 1 year after submitting the inventory.
  • A government‑wide recommendations report is due in 2 years, and a GAO review in 3 years.
  • No additional funds are authorized.