Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the difference between WhiteHouse.gov/Recovery and Recovery.gov?
A: WhiteHouse.gov/Recovery allows the public to follow America's recovery story and serves as the Administration’s one-stop shop for a range of content from video to blog posts to briefings and statements related to the Recovery Act. At WhiteHouse.gov/Recovery, you can get updates from Vice President Biden and the Administration on the Recovery Act’s progress and stories from real people about how the Recovery Act is influencing their lives.

Recovery.gov is a website established and maintained by The Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board – a group created to coordinate and conduct oversight of funds distributed under the Act in order to prevent fraud, waste and abuse. Recovery.gov is a user friendly website established to foster greater accountability and transparency by: 1) explaining the Recovery Act; 2) showing how, when, and where the money is being spent and; 3) making government accountable by providing data that will allow citizens to evaluate the Act’s progress and provide feedback. Recovery.gov features information on how the Act is working, tools to help you hold the government accountable, and up-to-date data on the expenditure of funds.

Q: How does the Recovery Act work?
A: The different agencies -- such as the Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and Energy -- decide who will receive Recovery Act award grants and contracts. Sometimes the money will go to a state government; other times, the funds will go directly to a school, hospital, contractor, or other organization. As the Agencies make these decisions, they deliver that information to the Recovery.gov team. As Recovery.gov receives the data, they make it available online so you are able to track where the money is going. As more and more of the Recovery funds are distributed, you'll be able to search the Recovery.gov by state or even by Congressional district and look up names of Federal contractors and other recipients of Federal dollars.

Q: Where can I find information on the first 100 days of the Recovery Act?
A: May 27th, 2009 marked the 100th day since the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was signed into law by President Obama. The early impact was reflected in "100 Days, 100 Projects," a report that provides a snapshot of some of the programs and projects funded by the Recovery Act that are creating jobs in emerging sectors like renewable energy, and preserving jobs in critical areas like law enforcement and education.

Q: What is the Roadmap to Recovery?
A: The Roadmap to Recovery is the Obama Administration’s summer initiative to accelerate implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestmant Act in its second 100 days. The Roadmap spotlights ten new major projects that will define the next three months of the Recovery Act and provides maps of the broad swath of the activity that will be underway across the United States. For communities across the country this means more police officers protecting our streets, more teachers educating our children, more shovels in the ground improving our neighborhoods and 600,000 people nationwide working that would otherwise be out of a job.

Q: What's the purpose of the Recovery Act?
A: The purpose of the Recovery Act is to create and save jobs, jumpstart our economy, and build the foundation for long-term economic growth. The Act includes measures to modernize the nation's infrastructure, enhance America's energy independence, expand educational opportunities, increase access to health care, provide tax relief, and protect those in greatest need.

Q: What type of programs does the Recovery Act fund?
A: The Recovery Act specifies appropriations for a wide range of Federal programs and increases or extends certain benefits payable under the Medicaid, unemployment compensation, and nutrition assistance programs. The legislation also reduces taxes for families and businesses and makes a variety of other changes to tax laws. The package provides funds that will:

• Create a framework for clean, efficient, American energy;
• Transform our economy with science and technology;
• Modernize roads, bridges, transit and waterways;
• Overhaul education for the 21st Century;
• Dispense tax cuts to make work pay and create jobs;
• Expand access to healthcare and lower costs;
• Provide assistance to workers hurt by the economy;
• Save public sector jobs and protect vital services

Q: How can I report waste, fraud or misuse of recovery funds?
A: The Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board (RATB) is responsible for overseeing all funds under the Recovery Act and providing the public with a direct and immediate link to spending through Recovery.gov. The RATB not only wants to provide the public with unprecedented oversight of Recovery Act funds, but also ensure swift and immediate action to prevent fraud, waste, and mismanagement.

As money begins to flow to grant and contract recipients, the public may become aware of potential fraud that should be investigated to ensure the Recovery Act funds are spent properly. Recovery.gov is currently working to provide an on-line complaint and hotline service to log suspected fraudulent use of the recovery money. In the meantime, there are ways for you to get your message to the right agency fast. If you see fraud, waste, or mismanagement of Recovery Act funds, refer the matter immediately to the respective agency.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) also offers "FraudNet," which is website where anyone may report allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, or mismanagement of federal funds. GAO then refers those allegations to the Inspector General (IG) of the relevant federal agency.  For more information, visit Recovery.gov.

Q: How can I apply for recovery funds?
A: Recovery.gov shows you where to go for information on federal grants, government loans and benefits, and state recovery sites.

Q: Where is my money going?
A: The Recovery Act targets investments that will save and create good jobs immediately, while also laying the groundwork for long-term economic growth. Learn more about where your money is going at Recovery.gov.

Q: How can I contact the Administration with questions or comments about WhiteHouse.gov/Recovery and the recovery package?
A: The best method to comment or ask a question on WhiteHouse.gov/Recovery is to use our contact us form.

For questions about the federal government, visit USA.gov or call 1 (800) FED INFO (1-800-333-4636) (8 am-8 pm ET Monday-Friday).