Budget Reform Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Marshall, Roger [R-KS]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would shift federal budgeting from annual cycles to a two‑year, biennial budget cycle and remake budget rules to force program-by-program justification and greater model transparency.
Show full summary
- Congress and lawmakers would move to a fixed two‑year timetable for the President’s budget, CBO reports, and biennial appropriation bills starting with the 2028 biennium. It would add new points of order that block single‑year appropriations, raise many waiver thresholds to two‑thirds, and impose a "no budget, no travel" restriction on political travel during covered periods.
- Federal departments and agencies would face phased zero‑based budgeting requirements. Budget submissions would need activity‑level descriptions, legal bases, cost‑efficiency metrics, and three funding levels with most below current averages. Agencies must adopt two‑year planning and reporting and some Title 31 changes take effect March 1, 2026 with principal biennial rules effective January 1, 2027.
- The Congressional Budget Office would be required to publish the models, data, code, and assumptions behind cost estimates six months after enactment to allow replication. The bill would also change baseline construction by removing automatic inflation adjustments for biennial projections beginning January 1, 2027.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.
Senate limit on budget amendments
If enacted, the Senate would make it out of order to consider budget items unless they come from the Senate Budget Committee. Senators could have offending provisions stricken if the chair sustains the point of order. Debate on related motions and appeals would be limited to one hour. Special excision rules would apply to conference reports and House amendments.
No inflation in budget baseline
If enacted, budget baseline projections would stop adjusting for inflation starting January 1, 2027. The baseline would assume current laws and continuation of current discretionary funding levels. Emergency and supplemental resources would be treated separately. The rule says no adjustment for inflation or any other factor.
Two-year federal budget schedule
If enacted, Congress would move to a two-year federal budget cycle. The President would send one budget covering the full biennium by the first day Congress meets. The budget must include details for each year of the biennium and four years after. Agencies would send year-ahead authorization requests earlier, moving the deadline from May 16 to March 31.
Zero-based budgeting for agencies
If enacted, federal agencies would have to justify each activity as if it were new when they send budgets. Each activity must include three funding options, with at least two below current levels. OMB must require a zero baseline and publish guidance. Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are exempt from the immediate submission requirement.
CBO must publish models and data
If enacted, the Congressional Budget Office would publish the models, code, and data it uses to score legislation. CBO must make materials available within six months of enactment. For data CBO cannot disclose, it must publish variable lists, allowed summary statistics, the blocking statute, and contact details.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Marshall, Roger [R-KS]
KS • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov