National Emergencies Reform Act of 2025

This bill tightens how national emergencies are declared, approved, and overseen. The President must spell out which laws will be used, and actions must match the actual emergency and can’t be used to fund programs Congress has refused to fund . Congress has 20 days when it is in session to pass a law approving the emergency and the specific powers; otherwise, the emergency and those powers stop. If an emergency ends, unused shifted money goes back to its original purpose and related contracts are ended. Emergencies must be renewed each year by both a presidential order and a new approval law, and no emergency can last more than five years; current emergencies wind down within two to five years depending on how long they’ve been in place . If Congress does not approve, the President cannot declare another emergency on the same issue during that term or use the specific power that Congress refused to approve for that emergency.

The bill also boosts transparency. With each declaration or renewal, the President must send Congress a written report explaining why it’s needed, how long it may last, what actions and fund moves are planned, and then give updates at least every three months while it’s in effect. The President’s yearly budget must list all planned and actual spending tied to each active emergency, with details by account and project, and disclose any transfers or reprogrammings of money. Presidential emergency action documents must be sent to Congress within 30 days of approval or revision, and older ones must be sent shortly after this becomes law. Some emergencies that rely mainly on sanctions laws continue under the older rules, rather than these new ones. The bill also ends the “Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism” budget label starting October 1, 2025, or when this becomes law, whichever is later.

• Who is affected
  • The President and federal agencies managing emergencies, Congress, and people and communities living under national emergency actions.
• What changes
  • Congress must pass an approval law within 20 in-session days or the emergency and its powers end.
  • Annual renewals need both a presidential order and a new approval law; maximum length is five years, with a phase-out for current emergencies .
  • Limits prevent using emergency powers to fund programs Congress has chosen not to fund and block repeat declarations on the same issue if not approved .
  • Money and contracts tied to an ended emergency are rolled back; regular written and quarterly reports to Congress are required; the budget must show all emergency-related spending and money moves; emergency action documents are disclosed to Congress .
  • Sanctions-based emergencies continue under older rules; the OCO/GWOT budget label is repealed on the stated date .
• When
  • Most rules apply once this becomes law and cover new emergencies; existing emergencies must follow the new renewal rules at their next renewal. The OCO/GWOT change takes effect on October 1, 2025, or on enactment, whichever is later .