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The Tax Bill’s Automatic Spending Cuts

NOTE:  The New York Time’s article has a great interactive graphic at it’s top that we aren’t able to import.

The following article by Margot Sanger-Katz was posted on the New York Times website November 29, 2017:

If Congress passes its tax bill and then takes no other action, the funding for dozens of federal spending programs could be cut — in many cases to nothing — beginning next year.

The cuts would be automatic, the consequence of a 2010 law that Congress passed to keep itself from increasing the deficit too much.

The biggest program affected would be Medicare, the health insurance program for older people and the disabled. But the law allows Medicare to take only a relatively small cut: 4 percent. Other programs have no such protection. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the deficit increase from the tax bill would be large enough — $1.5 trillion over 10 years — that spending for the unprotected programs would be reduced to zero next year and nearly zero over the next nine years.

Each bubble above represents the size of an automatic budget cut that could take place next year.

The Statutory Pay-as-You-Go Act of 2010, or Paygo, is an Obama-era update of a rule first enacted under President George H.W. Bush. It requires that legislation that adds to the federal deficit be paid for with spending cuts, increases in revenue or other offsets

With the exception of Social Security, the post office and many income-based programs like unemployment benefits and food stamps, most mandatory spending programs — those automatically funded on a continuing basis, rather than appropriated year by year — are subject to Paygo. In 2018, for example, the law would claim $14 billion in various farm aid programs; $1.7 billion for Social Services block grants, which states use to help fund foster care, Meals on Wheels and other programs; and $69 million for the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund.

Congress has found a way to slip around the rule in the past by including an exception in legislation from the Paygo cuts. But because of the special budget process Republicans are using for tax overhaul this year, the tax bill itself can’t include such an exception. Congress could prevent the cuts by passing separate legislation by the end of the year, but that measure would need 60 votes in the Senate, requiring several Democrats to support it. The cuts also require action from the White House, though the law does not give it much discretion to avoid them.

Certain government programs receive a mixture of mandatory and appropriated funds, so the mandatory cuts won’t eliminate them entirely. The Women, Infants and Children program, which provides food assistance, gets most of its $6.2 billion from a fund that is not subject to Paygo cuts. So even though it might be subject to a $1 million cut, that would only be a tiny fraction of its entire funding. Some programs have special rules. One fund, for military retiree benefits, will still get paid even if it gets zeroed out under the automatic cuts.

Given the popularity of many of the programs subject to the Paygo cuts, it’s possible lawmakers may find a way to avert them. But if they do not, here is a list of programs that, by law, would lose their funding.

Agency Account Sequesterable amount in 2018, in millions
1 Legislative Branch Congressional Use of Foreign Currency, Senate 6
2 Legislative Branch Congressional Use of Foreign Currency, House of Representatives 1
3 Legislative Branch Judiciary Office Building Development and Operations Fund 17
4 Legislative Branch Government Publishing Office Business Operations Revolving Fund 2
5 Legislative Branch Other Legislative Branch Boards and Commissions 1
6 Judicial Branch Salaries and Expenses 85
7 Judicial Branch Judiciary Filing Fees 225
8 Judicial Branch Registry Administration 1
9 Department of Agriculture Office of the Secretary 13
10 Department of Agriculture Office of the Chief Economist 1
11 Department of Agriculture Miscellaneous Contributed Funds 2
12 Department of Agriculture Extension Activities 50
13 Department of Agriculture Integrated Activities 100
14 Department of Agriculture Salaries and Expenses, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 285
15 Department of Agriculture Miscellaneous Trust Funds 1
16 Department of Agriculture Expenses and Refunds, Inspection and Grading of Farm Products 1
17 Department of Agriculture Limitation on Inspection and Weighing Services Expenses 44
18 Department of Agriculture Marketing Services 30
19 Department of Agriculture Payments to States and Possessions 85
20 Department of Agriculture Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act Fund 11
21 Department of Agriculture Funds for Strengthening Markets, Income, and Supply (section 32) 1,183
22 Department of Agriculture Expenses and Refunds, Inspection and Grading of Farm Products 6
23 Department of Agriculture Milk Market Orders Assessment Fund 61
24 Department of Agriculture Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Fund 56
25 Department of Agriculture Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund Program Account 1
26 Department of Agriculture Commodity Credit Corporation Export Loans Program Account 5
27 Department of Agriculture Commodity Credit Corporation Fund 13,698
28 Department of Agriculture Pima Agriculture Cotton Trust Fund 16
29 Department of Agriculture Agriculture Wool Apparel Manufacturers Trust Fund 30
30 Department of Agriculture Watershed Rehabilitation Program 66
31 Department of Agriculture Farm Security and Rural Investment Programs 3,862
32 Department of Agriculture Rural Energy for America Program 50
33 Department of Agriculture Rural Microenterprise Investment Program Account 3
34 Department of Agriculture Energy Assistance Payments 15
35 Department of Agriculture Biorefinery Assistance Program Account 20
36 Department of Agriculture Salaries and Expenses, Foreign Agricultural Service 1
37 Department of Agriculture Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program 145
38 Department of Agriculture Commodity Assistance Program 21
39 Department of Agriculture Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) 1
40 Department of Agriculture Child Nutrition Programs 61
41 Department of Agriculture Stewardship Contracting Product Sales 12
42 Department of Agriculture Forest Service Permanent Appropriations 222
43 Department of Agriculture Land Acquisition 2
44 Department of Agriculture Forest Service Trust Funds 99
45 Department of Commerce Current Surveys and Programs 20
46 Department of Commerce Damage Assessment and Restoration Revolving Fund 16
47 Department of Commerce Promote and Develop Fishery Products and Research Pertaining to American Fisheries 156
48 Department of Commerce Limited Access System Administration Fund 13
49 Department of Commerce Environmental Improvement and Restoration Fund 2
50 Department of Commerce Fisheries Enforcement Asset Forfeiture Fund 4
51 Department of Commerce North Pacific Fishery Observer Fund 4
52 Department of Commerce First Responder Network Authority 4
53 Department of Defense — Military Programs Concurrent Receipt Accrual Payments to the Military Retirement Fund 7,513
54 Department of Defense — Military Programs Miscellaneous Special Funds 18
55 Department of Defense — Military Programs National Defense Stockpile Transaction Fund 231
56 Department of Defense — Military Programs Surcharge Collections, Sales of Commissary Stores, Defense 292
57 Department of Defense — Military Programs Other DOD Trust Funds 11
58 Department of Education Rehabilitation Services 3,453
59 Department of Education Higher Education 255
60 Department of Education Student Financial Assistance 1
61 Department of Education TEACH Grant Program Account 25
62 Department of Education Student Financial Assistance Debt Collection 10
63 Department of Energy Payments to States under Federal Power Act 5
64 Department of Energy Bonneville Power Administration Fund 135
65 Department of Energy Western Area Power Administration, Borrowing Authority, Recovery Act. 1,189
66 Department of Health and Human Services Revolving Fund for Certification and Other Services 9
67 Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services 19
68 Department of Health and Human Services CDC-wide Activities and Program Support 61
69 Department of Health and Human Services Affordable Insurance Exchange Grants 17
70 Department of Health and Human Services Program Management 1,866
71 Department of Health and Human Services State Grants and Demonstrations 86
72 Department of Health and Human Services Risk Adjustment Program Payments 6,361
73 Department of Health and Human Services Transitional Reinsurance Program 166
74 Department of Health and Human Services Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund 238
75 Department of Health and Human Services Medicare(cuts capped at 4 percent) 25,483
76 Department of Health and Human Services Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund 715
77 Department of Health and Human Services Medicare Prescription Drug Account, Federal Supplementary Insurance 14
78 Department of Health and Human Services Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Account 1,352
79 Department of Health and Human Services Payments to States for Child Support Enforcement and Family Support Programs 1
80 Department of Health and Human Services Promoting Safe and Stable Families 345
81 Department of Health and Human Services Social Services Block Grant 1,700
82 Department of Health and Human Services Payments for Foster Care and Permanency 21
83 Department of Health and Human Services Temporary Assistance for Needy Families 26
84 Department of Health and Human Services Children’s Research and Technical Assistance 53
85 Department of Health and Human Services Prevention and Public Health Fund 900
86 Department of Health and Human Services Pregnancy Assistance Fund 25
87 Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights 10
88 Department of Health and Human Services Miscellaneous Trust Funds 12
89 Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General 12
90 Department of Homeland Security Operations and Support, Citizenship and Immigration Services 4,077
91 Department of Homeland Security Procurement, Construction, and Improvements 250
92 Department of Homeland Security Operations and Support, Transportation Security Administration 5
93 Department of Homeland Security Operations and Support, ICE 318
94 Department of Homeland Security Operations and Support, U.S. Customs and Border Protection 1,344
95 Department of Homeland Security Payments to Wool Manufacturers 17
96 Department of Homeland Security APEC Business Travel Card 1
97 Department of Homeland Security Electronic System for Travel Authorization 62
98 Department of Homeland Security Refunds, Transfers, and Expenses of Operation, Puerto Rico 93
99 Department of Homeland Security 9-11 Response and Biometric Exit Account 116
100 Department of Homeland Security U.S. Customs Refunds, Transfers and Expenses, Unclaimed and Abandoned Goods 3
101 Department of Homeland Security Boat Safety 111
102 Department of Homeland Security Maritime Oil Spill Programs 101
103 Department of Homeland Security National Flood Insurance Fund 1,553
104 Department of Housing and Urban Development Housing Trust Fund 220
105 Department of Housing and Urban Development Rental Housing Assistance Fund 2
106 Department of the Interior Helium Fund 11
107 Department of the Interior Range Improvements 10
108 Department of the Interior Miscellaneous Permanent Payment Accounts 37
109 Department of the Interior Permanent Operating Funds 144
110 Department of the Interior Payments to States in Lieu of Coal Fee Receipts 114
111 Department of the Interior Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund 207
112 Department of the Interior Water and Related Resources 1
113 Department of the Interior Lower Colorado River Basin Development Fund 4
114 Department of the Interior Upper Colorado River Basin Fund 3
115 Department of the Interior Colorado River Dam Fund, Boulder Canyon Project 8
116 Department of the Interior Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Account 9
117 Department of the Interior Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration 775
118 Department of the Interior National Wildlife Refuge Fund 9
119 Department of the Interior Migratory Bird Conservation Account 68
120 Department of the Interior North American Wetlands Conservation Fund 13
121 Department of the Interior Recreation Enhancement Fee Program, FWS 1
122 Department of the Interior Sport Fish Restoration 425
123 Department of the Interior Construction (and Major Maintenance) 20
124 Department of the Interior Land Acquisition and State Assistance 120
125 Department of the Interior Other Permanent Appropriations 8
126 Department of the Interior Recreation Fee Permanent Appropriations 36
127 Department of the Interior Operation and Maintenance of Quarters 3
128 Department of the Interior Miscellaneous Permanent Appropriations 15
129 Department of the Interior Mineral Leasing and Associated Payments 1,490
130 Department of the Interior National Petroleum Reserve, Alaska 5
131 Department of the Interior National Forests Fund, Payment to States 8
132 Department of the Interior Leases of Lands Acquired for Flood Control, Navigation, and Allied Purposes 43
133 Department of the Interior States Share from Certain Gulf of Mexico Leases 272
134 Department of the Interior Geothermal Lease Revenues, Payment to Counties 3
135 Department of the Interior National Indian Gaming Commission, Gaming Activity Fees 19
136 Department of the Interior Natural Resource Damage Assessment Fund 6
137 Department of Justice Fees and Expenses of Witnesses 270
138 Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund 1,562
139 Department of Justice United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund 3
140 Department of Justice Diversion Control Fee Account 414
141 Department of Justice Commissary Funds, Federal Prisons (Trust Revolving Fund) 71
142 Department of Justice Public Safety Officer Benefits 10
143 Department of Justice Crime Victims Fund 13,500
144 Department of Justice Domestic Trafficking Victims’ Fund 1
145 Department of Labor Training and Employment Services 150
146 Department of Labor State Unemployment Insurance and Employment Service Operations 18
147 Department of Labor Federal Unemployment Benefits and Allowances 790
148 Department of Labor Unemployment Trust Fund 100
149 Department of Labor Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Fund 129
150 Department of Labor Special Benefits for Disabled Coal Miners 5
151 Department of Labor Administrative Expenses, Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Fund 144
152 Department of Labor Black Lung Disability Trust Fund 69
153 Department of Labor H-1 B and L Fraud Prevention and Detection 45
154 Department of State Educational and Cultural Exchange Programs 5
155 Department of State H&L Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee 45
156 Department of Transportation Essential Air Service and Rural Airport Improvement Fund 119
157 Department of Transportation Aviation Insurance Revolving Fund 1
158 Department of Transportation Federal-aid Highways 739
159 Department of Transportation Emergency Preparedness Grants 28
160 Department of the Treasury Terrorism Insurance Program 3
161 Department of the Treasury GSE Mortgage-backed Securities Purchase Program Account 2
162 Department of the Treasury Grants for Specified Energy Property in Lieu of Tax Credits, Recovery Act 300
163 Department of the Treasury Small Business Lending Fund Program Account 13
164 Department of the Treasury Presidential Election Campaign Fund 50
165 Department of the Treasury Financial Research Fund 62
166 Department of the Treasury Treasury Forfeiture Fund 1,292
167 Department of the Treasury Capital Magnet Fund, Community Development Financial Institutions 119
168 Department of the Treasury Salaries and Expenses 19
169 Department of the Treasury Payment of Government Losses in Shipment 1
170 Department of the Treasury Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset 40
171 Department of the Treasury Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Terrestrial Wildlife Habitat Restoration Trust Fund 1
172 Department of the Treasury Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund 156
173 Department of the Treasury Payment Where Certain Tax Credits Exceed Liability for Corporate Tax 856
174 Department of the Treasury Build America Bond Payments, Recovery Act 3,903
175 Department of the Treasury Payment to Issuer of Qualified Zone Academy Bonds 62
176 Department of the Treasury Payment to Issuer of Qualified School Construction Bonds 795
177 Department of the Treasury Payment to Issuer of New Clean Renewable Energy Bonds 40
178 Department of the Treasury Payment to Issuer of Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds 39
179 Department of the Treasury Payment Where Small Business Health Insurance Tax Credit Exceeds Liability for Tax 14
180 Department of the Treasury IRS Miscellaneous Retained Fees 27
181 Department of the Treasury Informant Payments 54
182 Department of the Treasury Private Collection Agent Program 60
183 Corps of Engineers — Civil Works Revolving Fund 25
184 Corps of Engineers — Civil Works South Dakota Terrestrial Wildlife Habitat Restoration Trust Fund 3
185 Corps of Engineers — Civil Works Coastal Wetlands Restoration Trust Fund 78
186 Corps of Engineers — Civil Works Rivers and Harbors Contributed Funds 213
187 Corps of Engineers — Civil Works Permanent Appropriations 20
188 Environmental Protection Agency Reregistration and Expedited Processing Revolving Fund 31
189 Environmental Protection Agency Damage Assessment and Restoration Revolving Fund 2
190 Environmental Protection Agency Hazardous Substance Superfund 33
191 Environmental Protection Agency Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund 100
192 Executive Office of the President Spectrum Relocation Fund 856
193 Executive Office of the President Disposal of Surplus Real and Related Personal Property 9
194 Executive Office of the President Expenses of Transportation Audit Contracts and Contract Administration 13
195 International Assistance Programs Foreign Military Sales Trust Fund 175
196 National Aeronautics and Space Administration Science, Space, and Technology Education Trust Fund 1
197 National Science Foundation Education and Human Resources 100
198 Office of Personnel Management Flexible Benefits Plan Reserve 12
199 Office of Personnel Management Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund 55
200 Office of Personnel Management Employees Life Insurance Fund 2
201 Office of Personnel Management Employees and Retired Employees Health Benefits Funds 6
202 Appalachian Regional Commission Appalachian Regional Commission 4
203 Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection Fund 630
204 Commodity Futures Trading Commission Customer Protection Fund 1
205 District of Columbia District of Columbia Crime Victims Compensation Fund 6
206 District of Columbia District of Columbia Judicial Retirement and Survivors Annuity Fund 1
207 District of Columbia District of Columbia Federal Pension Fund 20
208 Equal Employment Opportunity Commission EEOC Education, Technical Assistance, and Training Revolving Fund 2
209 Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation Farm Credit System Insurance Fund 4
210 Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Orderly Liquidation Fund 1,867
211 Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council Registry Fees 4
212 Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation Environmental Dispute Resolution Fund 1
213 National Archives and Records Administration National Archives Trust Fund 1
214 National Endowment for the Arts Gifts and Donations, National Endowment for the Arts 1
215 Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund 626
216 Railroad Retirement Board Railroad Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund 139
217 Securities and Exchange Commission Securities and Exchange Commission Reserve Fund 75
218 Securities and Exchange Commission Investor Protection Fund 18
219 Tennessee Valley Authority Tennessee Valley Authority Fund 441
220 United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Holocaust Memorial Museum 48
221 Vietnam Education Foundation Vietnam Debt Repayment Fund 5
222 Affordable Housing Program Affordable Housing Program 360
223 Corporation for Travel Promotion Travel Promotion Fund 100
224 Electric Reliability Organization Electric Reliability Organization 100
225 National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers 49
226 Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Public Company Accounting Oversight Board 259
227 Securities Investor Protection Corporation Securities Investor Protection Corporation 202
228 Standard Setting Body Payment to Standard Setting Body 27
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