A bill to require agencies submit zero-based budgets.

Senate Bill

S. 181

119th Congress

A bill to require agencies submit zero-based budgets.

In Committee

Introduced:Jan 22, 2025

Primary Sponsor

James Risch

R - ID

Cosponsors

6

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Economics and Public Finance

Summary

This bill requires federal agencies to submit zero-based budgets that examine all objectives, operations, and costs from scratch rather than incrementally adjusting previous budgets. Agencies must also recommend 2 percent spending reductions, except Defense and nuclear security.

Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill requires federal agencies to submit zero-based budgets that examine all objectives, operations, and costs from scratch rather than incrementally adjusting previous budgets. Agencies must also recommend 2 percent spending reductions, except Defense and nuclear security.

Last updated: 1/5/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

This bill requires federal agencies to submit zero-based budgets to the Office of Management and Budget and the congressional budget committees. Under the bill, a zero-based budget is a systematic budget analysis in which managers (1) examine current objectives, operations, and costs; (2) consider alternative ways of carrying out programs or activities; and (3) rank different programs or activities by order of importance.The bill also requires federal agencies to submit recommendations to reduce spending by at least 2% from the previous year's levels. The Department of Defense and the National Nuclear Security Administration are exempt from this requirement.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Requires zero-based federal budgeting
Mandates examination of all costs and operations
Requires 2 percent spending cut recommendations
Exempts Defense and nuclear security
Promotes budget efficiency and accountability

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

Federal agencies would face more rigorous budget justification requirements. Inefficient programs could be identified and eliminated. The budgeting process would become more transparent but also more labor-intensive for agencies.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Economics and Public Finance

Related Subjects

Appropriations

Budget deficits and national debt

Budget process

Congressional oversight

Executive agency funding and structure

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

181, 119th Congress (2025). "A bill to require agencies submit zero-based budgets.". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-181