Emergency Spending Accountability Act

This bill would make the federal government “pay back” any emergency spending with automatic, across-the-board cuts over five years. Starting the next October 1 after the spending happens, the Office of Management and Budget would cut enough each year to save one‑fifth of the total emergency amount, so the full cost is offset over five years. The cuts must come from the same side of the budget as the spending: if the emergency money was for agency budgets, the cuts come from agency budgets; if it was for mandatory programs, the cuts come from mandatory programs. The cut is the same percentage across affected programs, and if the original law already included some offsets, the required cuts are reduced by that amount.

Some areas are protected and would not be cut: Social Security and Railroad Retirement benefits, national defense accounts, all Veterans Affairs programs, and Medicare. Any bill that includes emergency spending must also include a clear, detailed explanation of why the spending is truly an emergency and unplanned, to be shared with Congress and the public record before a vote.

Key points

• Who is affected: Most federal programs on the same side of the budget as the emergency spending, except Social Security, Railroad Retirement, national defense, VA programs, and Medicare.
• What changes: Emergency spending must be offset by five years of uniform, automatic cuts; offsets already included in the bill reduce those cuts.
• When: Cuts start the next October 1 after the emergency spending and continue for four more years (five years total).