A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on the Budget.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the Spending Safeguard Act and requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to set a spending limitation on certain direct spending programs. This limit must be set within 90 days of a program being enacted or reauthorized if the program does not have a specific authorized spending level in statute. For defense, health, income security, and veterans benefits programs, the limit is 120 percent of the program's estimated six-year cost, while other programs are capped at 110 percent. The Director must maintain a public scorecard to track these spending levels and report breaches. If a program reaches its spending safeguard limitation, no further funds may be obligated to carry out that program 30 days after the determination. The bill explicitly excludes Medicare and Social Security from these provisions.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +6
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill requires OMB to maintain a public scorecard tracking spending safeguard limitations and program funding levels.
- Scored +5
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill establishes spending safeguard limitations on direct spending programs, capping expenditures and halting fund obligations if caps are breached.
- Scored +4
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?
By requiring OMB to track direct spending against statutory caps and cutting off funds upon breach, the legislation encourages greater fiscal discipline.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
Veterans benefits programs are subject to spending safeguard limitations that could potentially halt fund obligations if program caps are breached.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Section 2(b)(1) requires the Director to maintain and make publicly available a spending safeguard limitation scorecard displaying spending levels for direct spending programs. This is positive because it gives the people clear visibility into how government programs are tracking against their spending limits.
-
Section 2(e) requires federal agencies to inform program participants through contracts, benefit offers, or other materials that the program is subject to a spending safeguard limitation that may impact future fund availability. This ensures people are not caught off guard and are explicitly warned about potential changes in program funding.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Section 2(d)(2) states that if a direct spending program reaches its spending safeguard limitation, no funds may be obligated to carry out the program effective 30 days after that determination. This could negatively impact individuals who rely on these programs because benefits or services could be abruptly cut off if the spending cap is hit.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill establishes spending safeguard limitations on direct spending programs, capping expenditures and halting fund obligations if caps are breached. Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — By requiring OMB to track direct spending against statutory caps and cutting off funds upon breach, the legislation encourages greater fiscal discipline.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires OMB to maintain a public scorecard tracking spending safeguard limitations and program funding levels. Does this give the federal government more power? — The legislation expands the responsibilities and oversight authority of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget over direct spending programs.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — Veterans benefits programs are subject to spending safeguard limitations that could potentially halt fund obligations if program caps are breached.
- 9/28/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on the Budget.
- Introduced in House
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.