CBO Scores the DOTGOV Online Trust in Government Act

The DOTGOV Online Trust in Government Act (S 2749) would codify the process through which federal and nonfederal entities request internet domain names specifically for governmental users (i.e. domain names ending in .gov). The bill would transfer the responsibility for overseeing the current process from the General Services Administration (GSA) to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). The bill also would permit state and local entities to apply for homeland security grants to help fund the costs of transitioning to those governmental domain names.

GSA spends about $5 million each year to manage the program. CBO expects that under the bill, CISA would pay for those operating expenses instead; thus, any change in spending subject to appropriation would be insignificant. GSA currently charges a $400 fee for each domain name request to recover the amount it pays vendors to process the transaction. S 2749 would permit CISA to provide that service with or without reimbursement. A reduction in fee collections from nonfederal entities would be recorded as an increase in direct spending. CBO does not expect that CISA would waive the current fee; thus, any increase in direct spending would be insignificant over the 2020‑2029 window, CBO estimates.