Sponsors (22)
I'll give you the short version of this bill.
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Referred to the Committee on the Budget, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, Transportation and Infrastructure, Rules, Foreign Affairs, the Judiciary, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced September 9, 2025 by Brendan Francis Boyle · Last progress September 9, 2025
This bill strengthens Congress’s control over federal spending and adds new transparency rules. It tightens how agencies release money that Congress has approved, requires notices when release schedules could slow programs, and lets the Government Accountability Office (GAO) quickly get information and, if needed, go to court to enforce the law. It also expands reporting when the Antideficiency Act is broken (that law bars spending money that isn’t available). The President’s budget must now show more detail about expired or canceled funds, spending during shutdowns, any authority used to shift money, and what was spent under national emergency powers. Some long‑standing “no‑year” accounts can be canceled if the purpose is finished and no money has moved for two years. The Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel must post many of its final legal opinions online on a set schedule, with limited national security and privacy exceptions.
It also rewrites parts of the National Emergencies Act. Any new emergency ends after 45 days unless Congress votes to approve it, and renewals also need approval. If not approved, the President cannot declare the same emergency again or use the same powers for it during that term. When an emergency ends, unused, shifted funds go back to their original purpose and emergency contracts end. The White House must regularly report what it is doing and spending during an emergency, and it must quickly share presidential emergency action documents with Congress. These emergency rules take effect at enactment for new emergencies and also apply when renewing existing ones.
Amends Part B of the Impoundment Control Act (2 U.S.C. 682 et seq.) by adding new provisions at the end establishing (a) prudent obligation requirements and limitations on deferrals/reservations of budget authority (new section 1018), (b) reporting requirements for departments and agencies regarding apportionments (new section 1019), and (c) penalties for failure to comply (new section 1020).
Amends 2 U.S.C. 686 (section 1015 of the Act) by adding a new subsection (c) that gives the Comptroller General authority to review compliance with Part B, to submit reports (and related information) on noncompliance to specified congressional committees, to request information and documentation with a 20-day response period (subject to GAO adjustment), and to have access to interview officers, employees, contractors, and representatives of departments or agencies. Also amends 1015(a) by striking its last sentence and inserting replacement text (as specified).
Amends 2 U.S.C. 681 (section 1001 of the Act) by adding a new paragraph (5) clarifying that the Act shall not be construed as affecting or limiting the authorities provided to the Comptroller General under title 31, chapter 7.
Amends 2 U.S.C. 687 (section 1016 of the Act) to revise the Comptroller General's enforcement authority: the Comptroller General is expressly empowered to bring civil actions in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to require budget authority to be made available or to compel production of required information, the court is expressly empowered to enter necessary decrees/orders, and the notice period before suing is changed to 15 calendar days after filing an explanatory statement (except where the Comptroller General finds delay would be contrary to the public interest).
Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, during the period beginning on the date of enactment and ending on January 20, 2029, the procedures under section 1017 of the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (identified in the Act as 2 U.S.C. 688) shall have no force or effect for that period.
Amends section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 901(b)(2)(A)) by striking specified text in clause (i) and clause (ii) of that provision (as shown in the amendment language).
Amends section 401 of the National Emergencies Act by modifying subsection (c) and adding new subsections (d) through (g) establishing new reporting requirements to specified entities, periodic reporting cadence, and definitions of recipients and covered information.
Amends section 706 of the Communications Act of 1934 by inserting text in subsection (c) and by revising subsection (d) to replace wording so that subsection (d) refers to 'a national emergency exists by virtue of there being' (substantive insertion/substitution as specified).
Title III of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1631) is repealed.
Amends section 207(b) of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act by striking each place it appears and inserting the phrase 'joint resolution' in its place (per the amendment language).
And 2 more affected sections...
Referred to the Committee on the Budget, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, Transportation and Infrastructure, Rules, Foreign Affairs, the Judiciary, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced in House