Unauthorized Spending Accountability Act
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This bill would reduce funding for federal programs with expired authorizations and terminate them after three years of unauthorized status.
What it does
This bill proposes to reduce funding levels for federal programs that receive annual appropriations despite having expired or expiring authorizations. For programs identified in the Congressional Budget Office's annual report on unauthorized spending, the bill would implement mandatory spending reductions over a three-year period and terminate any program that remains unauthorized at the end of that timeframe.
Who is affected
This bill affects federal programs that receive funding through the annual appropriations process despite having an expired or expiring authorization of appropriations. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is impacted as it must identify these programs in its annual reports, while congressional appropriations committees are affected by required reductions to their spending allocations. Ultimately, any federal programs listed in the CBO report face a three-year phased reduction in funding followed by termination if they remain unauthorized.
Key provisions
- Reduction of budgetary levels for unauthorized programs. The bill mandates reductions in spending allocations for federal programs that receive funding through the annual appropriations process despite having expired authorizations.
- Application to programs identified by the Congressional Budget Office. The spending reductions apply to programs listed in the CBO's annual report of funded programs with expired or expiring authorizations of appropriations.
- Three-year implementation of spending cuts. Specified reductions to budgetary levels are implemented over a three-year period for programs identified as unauthorized.
- Termination of unauthorized programs. Any program that remains unauthorized at the end of the three-year reduction period is subject to termination.
- Adjustment of congressional spending allocations. The bill modifies the 302(a) spending allocations provided to congressional appropriations committees under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
Fiscal impact
- H.R. 143, Unauthorized Spending Accountability Act· As ordered reported by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on December 2, 2025
Effective dates
The bill implements spending reductions over a three-year period for programs identified in the Congressional Budget Office's annual report on expired authorizations, with a final termination of those programs occurring at the end of the third unauthorized year.
Relationship to existing law
The bill modifies the application of spending allocations established under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, specifically affecting the 302(a) allocations provided to congressional appropriations committees. It also integrates with the Congressional Budget Office's statutory reporting requirements by using its annual list of expired or expiring program authorizations to trigger mandatory budgetary reductions and program terminations.
Stated purpose
The bill aims to reduce and eventually terminate federal spending for programs that continue to receive funding through the annual appropriations process despite having expired authorizations. It establishes a three-year timeline for mandatory budgetary reductions, culminating in the termination of programs that remain unauthorized by the end of that period.