Budget & Taxes (Appropriations)

HR 3787, the Emergency Spending Accountability Act, requires the Office of Management and Budget to implement mandatory spending cuts equal to 20% of all emergency spending approved in a fiscal year. These cuts would occur over five years (starting October 1 of the next fiscal year) and apply to most federal programs, though they exempt Social Security benefits, national defense (budget function 050), Department of Veterans Affairs programs, and Medicare. The bill also mandates that any congressional measure containing emergency spending must include a detailed justification explaining why the spending qualifies as "emergency" under existing budget laws. This aims to create accountability for spending that bypasses standard budget limits.

S 181 requires most federal agencies to submit zero-based budgets every six years, analyzing current operations, exploring alternatives, and ranking programs by importance. These budgets must cover the next fiscal year and the following four years, submitted to the Office of Management and Budget and congressional budget committees. Agencies (excluding Defense and the National Nuclear Security Administration) must also recommend specific program cuts totaling at least a 2% reduction in non-defense discretionary spending from the prior year. The bill directly affects how federal agencies plan and justify their funding, aiming to improve budget efficiency through systematic review.

S 360 would automatically reduce nonsecurity federal spending by specific percentages each fiscal year: 1% for 2026, 2% for 2027, and 5% annually starting in 2028. It directly affects nonsecurity discretionary programs like education, transportation, and scientific research (excluding defense and intelligence), as defined by the bill. The reductions apply pro rata across all such programs funded through annual appropriations. The Office of Management and Budget must report these cuts to Congress annually after each fiscal year ends.

This joint resolution proposes three constitutional amendments. It would grant the President the power to disapprove specific spending items in bills (line item veto), limit House members to six terms and Senators to two terms, and require a two-thirds vote in both congressional chambers to pass any new taxes or tax increases. The bill directly affects the President's executive authority, congressional term limits for members, and the legislative process for tax legislation. If ratified, these changes would alter how spending bills are handled, set term limits for Congress, and raise the threshold for tax-related legislation.