Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the Budget, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker…
This bill creates a recurring three-year reduction schedule for budgetary levels tied to programs whose authorizations of appropriations have expired, starting in fiscal year 2026. When a program is unauthorized, the next fiscal year budgetary level is cut by 10%, then 15% in each of the second and third unauthorized years; programs still unauthorized after three years are terminated effective the following October 1.
Left worries about harm to social programs; right emphasizes fiscal accountability.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill establishes a clear, numerically specified procedural framework for automatic reductions and termination of 'unauthorized' programs and ties operation to existing budget constructs (CBO report and 302(a) allocations).
This bill creates a recurring three-year reduction schedule for budgetary levels tied to programs whose authorizations of appropriations have expired, starting in fiscal year 2026.
When a program is unauthorized, the next fiscal year budgetary level is cut by 10%, then 15% in each of the second and third unauthorized years; programs still unauthorized after three years are terminated effective the following October 1.
Reauthorizations during the fiscal year that restore an authorization (with a sunset of no more than three years) exempt the program and restore any reductions.
Clear, limited statutory fix but encroaches on budget and committee practices; modest support possible in House, high Senate hurdles and stakeholder opposition lower ultimate odds.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill establishes a clear, numerically specified procedural framework for automatic reductions and termination of 'unauthorized' programs and ties operation to existing budget constructs (CBO report and 302(a) allocations). It provides concrete percentages, timing triggers, and an exemption mechanism for reauthorizations with short sunsets.
Left worries about harm to social programs; right emphasizes fiscal accountability.
These are examples from the analysis, not a ranked list of the most-affected groups.
Left worries about harm to social programs; right emphasizes fiscal accountability.
Skeptical and concerned.
They would view automatic reductions and termination as a blunt tool that risks cutting essential programs and harming beneficiaries.
They may accept stronger accountability but want protections and clearer exceptions for safety-net and public-health programs.
Cautiously receptive but concerned about implementation.
They would value stronger enforcement of authorizations and fiscal discipline, yet worry the mechanism is overly rigid and could produce unintended programmatic disruptions absent targeted safeguards.
Generally favorable.
They would see the bill as a practical enforcement tool to limit unauthorized spending and pressure Congress to eliminate or reauthorize programs deliberately.
They prefer automatic fiscal consequences over open-ended expenditures without authorization.
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Still ahead
Still ahead
Still ahead
Clear, limited statutory fix but encroaches on budget and committee practices; modest support possible in House, high Senate hurdles and stakeholder opposition lower ultimate odds.
The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.
Left worries about harm to social programs; right emphasizes fiscal accountability.
Clear, limited statutory fix but encroaches on budget and committee practices; modest support possible in House, high Senate hurdles and st…
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill establishes a clear, numerically specified procedural framework for automatic reductions and termination of 'unauthorized' programs and ties operation to existing bud…
Go beyond the headline summary with full stakeholder mapping, legislative design analysis, passage barriers, and lens-by-lens tradeoff breakdowns.