Title 2The CongressRelease 119-73

§683 Rescission of budget authority

Title 2 › Chapter CHAPTER 17B— - IMPOUNDMENT CONTROL › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - CONGRESSIONAL CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED RESCISSIONS, RESERVATIONS, AND DEFERRALS OF BUDGET AUTHORITY › § 683

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

When the President decides that some or all budget money is not needed, should be canceled for budget reasons, or if money meant for one year will be held back from spending that year, the President must send Congress a special message. The message must say how much money, what agency and project it affects, why it should be canceled or held back, an estimate of the budget and economic effects, and the facts and reasons behind the decision. Any amount the President proposes stays available to spend unless Congress passes a rescission bill within 45 days that cancels all or part of it. Money made available this way cannot be proposed for cancellation again.

Full Legal Text

Title 2, §683

The Congress — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Whenever the President determines that all or part of any budget authority will not be required to carry out the full objectives or scope of programs for which it is provided or that such budget authority should be rescinded for fiscal policy or other reasons (including the termination of authorized projects or activities for which budget authority has been provided), or whenever all or part of budget authority provided for only one fiscal year is to be reserved from obligation for such fiscal year, the President shall transmit to both Houses of Congress a special message specifying—
(1)the amount of budget authority which he proposes to be rescinded or which is to be so reserved;
(2)any account, department, or establishment of the Government to which such budget authority is available for obligation, and the specific project or governmental functions involved;
(3)the reasons why the budget authority should be rescinded or is to be so reserved;
(4)to the maximum extent practicable, the estimated fiscal, economic, and budgetary effect of the proposed rescission or of the reservation; and
(5)all facts, circumstances, and considerations relating to or bearing upon the proposed rescission or the reservation and the decision to effect the proposed rescission or the reservation, and to the maximum extent practicable, the estimated effect of the proposed rescission or the reservation upon the objects, purposes, and programs for which the budget authority is provided.
(b)Any amount of budget authority proposed to be rescinded or that is to be reserved as set forth in such special message shall be made available for obligation unless, within the prescribed 45-day period, the Congress has completed action on a rescission bill rescinding all or part of the amount proposed to be rescinded or that is to be reserved. Funds made available for obligation under this procedure may not be proposed for rescission again.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly classified to section 1402 of Title 31 prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 31, Money and Finance, by Pub. L. 97–258, § 1, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 877.

Amendments

1987—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 100–119 inserted at end “Funds made available for obligation under this procedure may not be proposed for rescission again.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

2 U.S.C. § 683

Title 2The Congress

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73