A bill to repeal the Impoundment Control Act of 1974.

Senate Bill

S. 515

119th Congress

A bill to repeal the Impoundment Control Act of 1974.

In Committee

Introduced:Feb 11, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Mike Lee

Senator

Republican

UT

Cosponsors

1

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Economics and Public Finance

Summary

This bill repeals the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, which currently limits the President from withholding funds that Congress has appropriated. Repealing this law would give the executive branch more power to decline spending money Congress has allocated for specific purposes.

Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Budget.

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill repeals the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, which currently limits the President from withholding funds that Congress has appropriated. Repealing this law would give the executive branch more power to decline spending money Congress has allocated for specific purposes.

Last updated: 1/5/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

<p>This bill repeals the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (ICA). The ICA generally limits the authority of the President to impound (i.e., withhold from obligation or expenditure) funds that have been appropriated by Congress and establishes related procedures. It also establishes expedited legislative procedures that Congress may use to consider legislation to enact rescissions proposed by the President. </p>

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Repeals the Impoundment Control Act of 1974
Removes limits on presidential authority to withhold appropriated funds
Eliminates congressional procedures for considering rescissions
Shifts budget power from Congress toward the President
Controversial change to balance of power over federal spending

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

The President would gain significantly more power to refuse spending money Congress has appropriated. Critics argue this undermines congressional power of the purse. Supporters say it gives the executive flexibility to manage spending efficiently.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Economics and Public Finance

Related Subjects

Budget process

Congressional-executive branch relations

Legislative rules and procedure

Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

515, 119th Congress (2025). "A bill to repeal the Impoundment Control Act of 1974.". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-515