H.R.199 - Implementing Decreases in Overall Government Expenditures Act; Implementing DOGE Act (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R. 199, the "Implementing Decreases in Overall Government Expenditures Act" or "Implementing DOGE Act," proposes across-the-board rescissions of nonsecurity discretionary spending. The bill defines key terms like "budget authority," "discretionary appropriations," and "excess growth percent" to clarify the scope of the rescissions. The rescissions would take effect for fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter, applied pro rata to the excess growth percent of nonsecurity discretionary appropriations.
Expected Effects
The bill aims to reduce government spending by rescinding a portion of nonsecurity discretionary appropriations if the total annual appropriations exceed the previous fiscal year's by more than one percent. This could lead to reduced funding for various government programs and agencies that fall under the nonsecurity discretionary category. The specific impact would depend on the size of the excess growth percent in any given fiscal year.
Potential Benefits
- Potential reduction in the federal budget deficit.
- Could incentivize more efficient government spending.
- May lead to lower taxes in the long run if spending is controlled.
- Could free up resources for other priorities if spending is reallocated.
- May reduce the size and scope of government.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential cuts to essential government services.
- Could negatively impact programs that rely on discretionary funding.
- May lead to job losses in the public sector.
- Could disproportionately affect vulnerable populations who rely on government assistance.
- The "excess growth percent" calculation may be complex and subject to manipulation.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill's focus on appropriations aligns with Congress's power of the purse, as outlined in Article I, Section 9, Clause 7 of the Constitution, which states that "No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law." The bill does not appear to infringe on any specific constitutional rights or limitations. However, the impact of the spending cuts on various programs could raise questions about the government's role in promoting the general welfare, as mentioned in the Preamble.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).