0.38 Percent Across-the-Board Cut in FY2000 Appropriations

Publication Date: February 2000

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Banking and finance

Type:

Abstract:

As the federal budget process for FY2000 unfolded in 1999, Congress and the President used various budgetary devices and techniques in order to avoid exceeding the discretionary spending limits, which would have triggered automatic spending cuts under a sequester. One of the devices was the inclusion of a 0.38% across-the-board cut in the Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY2000 (P.L. 106-113; H.R. 3194). According to OMB estimates, the 0.38% cut was expected to yield savings of $2.4 billion in budget authority and $1.4 billion in outlays for the fiscal year.

A report regarding the implementation of the cut was submitted to Congress on February 7, 2000, in the Analytical Perspectives volume of the President’s budget. According to the report, a total of $2,356,909,000 in discretionary budget authority was rescinded in 492 accounts. The largest share of the cuts, amounting to $1.055 billion and involving 70 accounts, was allocated to military activities of the Department of Defense. The other departments with cuts in excess of $100 million included the Departments of Transportation ($179.6 million), Health and Human Services ($166.8 million), and Education ($108.6 million).

This report will not be updated.