Congressional Power of the Purse Act

Summary

Strengthens Congress’s control over federal spending and emergency powers by tightening rules on apportionments and rescissions, creating new, multi-year budget reporting requirements, and forcing regular, detailed reports to Congress whenever the President declares or renews a national emergency. Agencies must notify congressional budget and appropriations committees when apportionments are late, conditioned, or likely to hinder obligations; the President’s budget must show new balances and transfer authority information for FY2027–FY2031; and national emergency use of authorities and spending must be reported at issuance, renewal, and every six months.

• Tightens limits on executive branch withholding, rescission, or deferral of budget authority and suspends a fast-track impoundment procedure until Jan 20, 2029.
• Requires apportionments to be issued early enough for prudent obligation and without preconditions at least 90 days before funds expire.
• Mandates agencies notify key congressional committees when apportionments are late, conditioned, or may hinder program execution.
• Requires new, recurring President’s budget disclosures for FY2027–FY2031 on unobligated expired balances, cancelled balances, and transfer/repurpose authorities used outside appropriation acts.
• Directs cancellation of certain remaining balances in indefinitely available accounts that do not meet statutory closure criteria.
• Requires agencies to report obligations or expenditures during appropriations lapses of five consecutive days or more, including legal authorities relied upon.
• Increases reporting and semiannual updates to Congress whenever a national emergency is declared, specified, or renewed, including planned actions and six-month expenditure estimates.
• Raises administrative and reporting burdens on agencies and OMB but increases congressional oversight and budget transparency.
• Aims to reduce executive flexibility to delay or reprogram funds without timely congressional notice and to make emergency authority use more visible to Congress.