List subaward contracts or grants under a prime federal award. Reveals the sub-contractor or sub-grantee layer — the organizations that actually perform the work. Each row shows the subaward number, amount, description, action date, and recipient. Check subaward_count on usaspending_get_award fir...
Part of the Usaspending Mcp Server server.
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AI agents call usaspending_get_award_subawards to retrieve information from Usaspending Mcp Server without modifying any data. This is common in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows where the agent needs context before taking action. Because read operations don't change state, they are generally safe to allow without restrictions -- but you may still want rate limits to control API costs.
Even though usaspending_get_award_subawards only reads data, uncontrolled read access can leak sensitive information or rack up API costs. An agent caught in a retry loop could make thousands of calls per minute. A rate limit gives you a safety net without blocking legitimate use.
Read-only tools are safe to allow by default. No rate limit needed unless you want to control costs.
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"usaspending_get_award_subawards": {}
}
}See the full Usaspending Mcp Server policy for all 14 tools.
These attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access usaspending_get_award_subawards gives an agent. Each links to the full case and the policy that stops it:
Other read tools across the catalogue. The same approach applies to each: allow, with a rate cap to control cost.
List subaward contracts or grants under a prime federal award. Reveals the sub-contractor or sub-grantee layer — the organizations that actually perform the work. Each row shows the subaward number, amount, description, action date, and recipient. Check subaward_count on usaspending_get_award first to confirm subawards exist before calling this tool.. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Usaspending Mcp Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Usaspending Mcp Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for usaspending_get_award_subawards: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches Usaspending Mcp Server. Nothing to install.
usaspending_get_award_subawards is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the usaspending_get_award_subawards rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for usaspending_get_award_subawards. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.
usaspending_get_award_subawards is provided by the Usaspending Mcp Server MCP server (@cyanheads/usaspending-mcp-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Deterministic rules across all 14 Usaspending Mcp Server tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.
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