According to a press release from Open The Books, a recent study conducted by Senator Joni Ernst and the auditors at OpenTheBooks.com reveals that upwards of $1.3 billion in U.S. taxpayer money has been transferred to Russia and China within the last five years (from 2017 onwards). Moreover, due to a lack of comprehensive tracking by federal agencies, this figure might represent just a fraction of the total sum directed to these countries.
Adam Andrzejewski, the founder and CEO of OpentheBooks.com insists that holding organizations and firms accountable by the standard of transparency is empowering to citizens and strengthens democracy. He points especially at the lack of transparency in financial dealings between the U.S, China, and Russia.
"Holding firms responsible to publicly report where and how they use their grants and contract awards can deputize private citizens and make them part of the solution,” Andrzejewski said. “Radical transparency is revolutionizing U.S. public policy and is the information machine for democracy. Everyone has a stake in a more transparent, effective government."
According to the release, Senator Ernst and Congressman Mike Gallagher have introduced the TRACKS Act to mandate tracking and disclosure of all government grants given to Chinese and Russian organizations. Such transparency initiatives aim to shed light on the utilization of taxpayer dollars, revealing instances of financial allocations to sanctioned companies, state-run labs, and questionable projects, sparking a call for accountability and informed citizen participation.
According to his bio on his website, Andrzejewski has devoted his career to advancing public-sector transparency. A former publishing entrepreneur, he's emerged as a leading figure in data-driven journalism, earning significant recognition for his investigative work. His mission-driven efforts are respected nationwide, leading to actionable change in governmental accountability.
