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Testimony: 

Before the Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government 
Information, Federal Services, and International Security, Committee on 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate: 

United States Government Accountability Office: 
GAO: 

For Release on Delivery: 
Expected at 2:30 p.m. EST:
Wednesday, December 16, 2009: 

Impoundment Control Act: 

Use and Impact of Rescission Procedures: 

Statement of Susan A. Poling: 
Managing Associate General Counsel: 
Office of General Counsel: 

GAO-10-320T: 

GAO Highlights: 

Highlights of GAO-10-320T, a testimony before the Subcommittee on 
Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, 
and International Security, Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate. 

Why GAO Did This Study: 

The Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (ICA) was enacted to tighten 
congressional control over presidential impoundments and establish a 
procedure under which Congress could consider the merits of rescissions 
proposed by the President. Under the ICA the President may propose a 
rescission when he wishes to withhold funds from obligation permanently 
or submit a deferral when the withholding of funds is temporary. Funds 
proposed for rescission may be withheld from obligation for 45 days of 
continuous congressional session. If Congress does not approve the 
rescission during this period, the President must release the funds on 
the 46th day. The ICA also provides a special discharge procedure 
permitting 20 percent of the members of either house to force a floor 
vote on any presidential rescission proposal. 

In March 2009, at the request of the Chairman and Vice Chairman, 
Committee on Appropriations, U.S. Senate, we prepared statistical data 
concerning rescissions proposed and enacted since the passage of the 
ICA in 1974. As requested by the Subcommittee, this testimony discusses 
the use and impact of the rescission procedures under the ICA and 
includes the statistical data we prepared earlier this year. 

What GAO Found: 

Since 1974, presidents have submitted rescission proposals totaling $76 
billion, of which Congress accepted and rescinded $25 billion. Both 
Republican and Democratic presidents have submitted rescission 
proposals since the enactment of the ICA in 1974. The number and dollar 
values proposed have varied widely with each administration. For 
example, the Reagan administration proposed the highest number (245 in 
1985) and the highest dollar value ($15.4 billion in 1981). On the 
other hand, President George W. Bush did not submit any proposals under 
the ICA. In October 2005, however, President Bush sent a letter to 
Congress proposing the “cancellation” and rescission of budget 
authority. The Office of Management and Budget stated that the letter 
was not a special message proposing rescissions under the ICA. 
Nevertheless, 7 agencies withheld budget authority from 12 programs in 
anticipation of congressional enactment of the proposals the President 
made in his letter. Since the President had not transmitted a special 
message to Congress under the ICA, we found that the 7 agencies 
withheld budget authority in violation of the ICA. 

Since 1974, Congress has approved about 39 percent of presidential 
rescission proposals, totaling about 33 percent of the budget authority 
proposed for rescission. The approval rate varies by administration. In 
the Clinton administration, Congress approved about 67 percent of the 
rescission proposals, covering 54 percent of the budget authority 
proposed for rescission. In the George H.W. Bush administration, 
Congress approved about 20 percent of the proposals, covering 18 
percent of the budget authority proposed for rescission. 

Congress, on its own initiative, has made increasing use of rescissions 
as a tool to revise enacted budget authority. Overall, since 1974, 
congressionally initiated rescissions total about $197 billion. This 
amount exceeds the approximately $76 billion proposed by all presidents 
since 1974. While these statistics highlight Congress’ increasing use 
of rescissions, the amounts rescinded, relative to the entire federal 
budget, make clear that rescissions have not been a major tool to 
reduce spending. This is in part because discretionary budget authority—
the only spending for which rescissions can be proposed—constitutes 
approximately 40 percent of federal spending. 

View [hyperlink, http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-10-320T] or key 
components. For more information, contact Susan A. Poling at (202) 512-
2667 or polings@gao.gov. 

[End of section] 

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee: 

I am pleased to be here today to discuss the Government Accountability 
Office's role in the congressional rescission process and to provide 
some perspective on the use and impact of rescissions. 

The Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (ICA) was enacted to tighten 
congressional control over presidential impoundments and establish a 
procedure under which Congress could consider the merits of 
impoundments proposed by the President. Under the ICA, the President 
may propose a rescission when he wishes to withhold funds from 
obligation permanently or submit a deferral when the withholding of 
funds is temporary. Funds proposed for rescission may be withheld from 
obligation for 45 days of continuous congressional session. If Congress 
does not approve the rescission during this period, the President must 
release the funds on the 46th day. The ICA also provides a special 
discharge procedure permitting 20 percent of the members of either 
house to force a floor vote on any presidential rescission proposal. 

Rescissions under the ICA have not historically served as a significant 
spending reduction tool. Since enactment of the ICA in 1974, presidents 
have proposed 1,178 rescissions totaling $76 billion. Congress has 
accepted 461 of those proposals (39%), totaling $25 billion (33%). 
During this period, Congress has initiated $197.1 billion in 
rescissions to revise spending decisions. 

The Comptroller General's Role: 

As this committee knows, the President is required to send a copy of 
the special message proposing rescissions or deferrals to the 
Comptroller General on the same day it is sent to Congress. Under the 
ICA, the Comptroller General is required to review each special message 
and report his findings to Congress as soon as practicable. We review 
each message to verify the facts surrounding, as well as the 
justification for, and the estimated program effect of, the proposed 
impoundment. We do this by talking with program officials, reviewing 
the latest agency budget documents, and discussing the proposed 
rescission with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) officials. We 
also review each message to ensure that it is not misclassified, such 
as a rescission proposal reported as a deferral. We report our findings 
on each special message to Congress, typically within 25 working days 
after receipt of the President's message. 

The ICA also requires the Comptroller General to report to Congress any 
impoundment which the President has failed to report. Obviously, it 
would be impractical to attempt to continuously review every account of 
the government, but we have found that this is unnecessary. When an 
unreported withholding takes place, concerned Members or Committees of 
Congress, intended recipients, or our auditors typically bring it to 
our attention. In fact, we last reported that an agency had withheld 
funds from obligation in August of 2006 after the Senate Committee on 
Appropriations requested that we undertake an assessment of whether 
executive branch agencies had withheld funds that had been proposed for 
cancellation in President Bush's Budget for Fiscal Year 2007. 

After the President submits an impoundment message to Congress, we are 
responsible for monitoring the status of affected funds. For example, 
we monitor deferred budget authority to ensure that the funds are 
released in time to allow for prudent obligation. Well before the 
expiration of deferred appropriations, we initiate inquiries at OMB to 
verify that the funds will not be permitted to expire. If it appears 
that funds may expire, we report the deferral to Congress as a de facto 
rescission. We also monitor the 45-day statutory time limit associated 
with proposed rescissions to ensure that funds are released promptly 
following congressional disapproval or the expiration of the 45-day 
time limit. If the funds are not promptly released after the expiration 
of the 45-day period, the Comptroller General is empowered to bring a 
civil action in the United States District Court for the District of 
Columbia to require release of the budget authority. Prior to bringing 
suit, the Comptroller General must report to the Speaker of the House 
of Representatives and the President of the Senate the circumstances 
giving rise to the need to bring suit. We may not initiate a suit until 
the passage of 25 days of continuous session of Congress. 

During the initial years of the ICA, we filed 25-day reports on several 
occasions and filed suit on one occasion. In each case, the funds were 
released. In recent years, it has not been necessary to resort to these 
procedures. 

Finally, we provide statistical summaries and analyses on the 
impoundment process, as an adjunct to the above roles. In the past, we 
informally provided a variety of data to Congress. As the level of 
interest in this area has increased, we have prepared and periodically 
submitted to Congress formal summaries of the number and dollar amounts 
of the President's proposed and enacted rescissions, and of 
congressionally initiated rescissions.[Footnote 1] Attachment I 
summarizes all proposed and enacted rescissions since 1974. 

Mr. Chairman, I would now like to turn to our rescission data to 
provide some perspective on the use of rescissions by both the 
President and Congress since the ICA was enacted. 

Use and Impact of the Rescission Process: 

Both Republican and Democratic presidents have submitted rescission 
proposals. As shown in Figure 1, the number and dollar values proposed 
have varied widely with each administration. For example, the Reagan 
administration proposed the highest number (245 in 1985) and highest 
dollar value ($15.4 billion in 1981). On the other hand, President 
George W. Bush did not submit any proposals for rescission under the 
ICA. 

Figure 1: Rescissions By Presidential Administration: 

[Refer to PDF for image: horizontal bar graph] 

Amounts in billions, unadjusted for inflation. 

Administration: President G.W. Bush, 2001-2008: 
No rescissions were proposed during President Bush's administration. 

Administration: President Clinton, 1993-2001: 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $3,628; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $6,749. 

Administration: President G.H.W. Bush, 1989-1993: 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $,2354; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $13,293. 

Administration: President Reagan, 1981-1989: 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $15,657; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $4,3426. 

Administration: President Carter, 1977-1981: 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $2,116; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $5,751. 

Administration: President Ford, 1974-1977: 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $1,252; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $7,935. 

Source: GAO analysis. 

[End of figure] 

Although President George W. Bush submitted no special messages to 
Congress under the ICA, he did transmit communications to Congress that 
proposed the "cancellation" and rescission of budget authority. For 
example, in October 2005, the President sent a letter to Congress 
proposing the "cancellation" and rescission of $2.3 billion from 53 
different programs. Seven agencies withheld budget authority from 
obligation from 12 programs in anticipation of congressional enactment 
of the proposals the President made in his letter. When we asked OMB 
about the President's letter and the proposed cancellations, OMB 
explained that the letter was not a special message under the ICA. 
Since the President had not transmitted a special message to Congress 
under the ICA, we found that the 7 agencies withheld budget authority 
in violation of the ICA.[Footnote 2] President Bush made similar 
proposals for "cancellations" and rescissions in his budgets for fiscal 
years 2007 and 2008, which were not special messages under the ICA. For 
his budget proposal for fiscal year 2007, the President requested the 
"cancellation" or rescission of previously appropriated funds from 40 
programs, administered by 13 agencies. This time only one agency 
withheld funds from obligation in violation of the ICA and released the 
funds after our inquiry.[Footnote 3] 

Since 1974, Congress has approved about 39 percent of presidential 
rescission proposals, totaling about 33 percent of the budget authority 
proposed for rescission. The approval rate varies by administration. In 
the Clinton administration, Congress approved about 67 percent of the 
proposals, covering 54 percent of the budget authority proposed for 
rescission. In the George H.W. Bush administration, Congress approved 
about 20 percent of the proposals, covering 18 percent of the budget 
authority proposed for rescission. The comparable numbers for the 
Reagan administration were about 36 percent of both the rescissions 
proposed and the associated budget authority. In the Carter 
administration, the comparable numbers were 56 percent of the 
rescissions proposed and 46 percent of the budget authority. 

Congress, on its own initiative, has made increasing use of rescissions 
as a tool to revise enacted budget authority.[Footnote 4] As shown in 
Figure 2, Congress has not merely reacted to presidential proposals, 
but also has initiated its own rescissions. Overall, since 1974, 
congressionally initiated rescissions total about $197 billion. This 
amount exceeds the approximately $76 billion proposed by all presidents 
since 1974.[Footnote 5] 

Figure 2: Proposed Versus Enacted Rescissions 1974-2008: 

[Refer to PDF for image: line graph] 

Amounts in billions, unadjusted for inflation. 

Fiscal year: 1974; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $0.5; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: $1.4; 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $0. 

Fiscal year: 1975; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $2.7; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: $0.5; 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $3.9. 

Fiscal year: 1976;
Rescissions proposed by the President: $3.6; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: $0; 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $1.5. 

Fiscal year: 1977; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $1.9; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: $1.7; 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $8.1. 

Fiscal year: 1978; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $1.3; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: $0.7; 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $0.5. 

Fiscal year: 1979; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $0.9; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: $4.8; 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $0.7. 

Fiscal year: 1980; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $1.6; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: $3.2; 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $7.8. 

Fiscal year: 1981; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $15.4; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: $3.7; 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $10.9. 

Fiscal year: 1982; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $7.9; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: $4.8; 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $4.4. 

Fiscal year: 1983; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $1.6; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: $0.3; 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $0. 

Fiscal year: 1984; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $0.6; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: $2.2; 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $0.6. 

Fiscal year: 1985; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $1.9; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: $5.5; 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $0.2, 

Fiscal year: 1986; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $10.1; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: $5.4; 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $0.1. 

Fiscal year: 1987; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $5.8; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: $12.4; 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $0.4. 

Fiscal year: 1988; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: $3.9; 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $0. 

Fiscal year: 1989; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $0.1; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: $3.3; 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $0.2. 

Fiscal year: 1990; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $0.6; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: $2.3; 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $0. 

Fiscal year: 1991; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $4.9; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: $1.4; 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $0.3. 

Fiscal year: 1992; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $7.9; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: $22.5; 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $2.1. 

Fiscal year: 1993; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $3.6; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: $22.1; 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $2.1. 

Fiscal year: 1994; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $3.2; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: $2.4; 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $1.3. 

Fiscal year: 1995; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $1.2; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: $18.9; 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $0.8. 

Fiscal year: 1996; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $1.4; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: $5.0; 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $1.0. 

Fiscal year: 1997; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $0.4; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: $7.4; 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $0.3. 

Fiscal year: 1998; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $0.3; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: $4.2; 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $0.2. 

Fiscal year: 1999; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $0.4; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: $5.1; 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $0.2. 

Fiscal year: 2000; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $0.1; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: $3.8; 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $0. 
Fiscal year: 2001; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: $5.1; 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $0. 

Fiscal year: 2002; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: $4.6; 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $0. 

Fiscal year: 2003; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: $3.1; 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $0. 

Fiscal year: 2004; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: $10.5; 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $0. 

Fiscal year: 2005; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: $6.4; 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $0. 

Fiscal year: 2006; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: $33.4; 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $0. 

Fiscal year: 2007; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: $8.0; 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $0. 

Fiscal year: 2008; 
Rescissions proposed by the President: $0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: $12.2; 
Proposed rescissions enacted: $0. 

Source: GAO analysis. 

[End of figure] 

These data suggest an evolution in the use of rescissions as a 
budgetary tool. In 1974, at the time of enactment of the Impoundment 
Control Act, the rescission procedure was envisioned as a mechanism to 
accommodate a President's desire to impound funds by providing for 
congressional review and approval of presidential rescission proposals. 
Congress, of course, can always rescind enacted budget authority on its 
own initiative, either to reduce spending or to adjust spending 
priorities. Over time, the share of total rescissions enacted each year 
which were originally proposed by the President has fallen and the 
share originating in Congress has increased. Attachments I and II 
provide rescissions data by year and by presidential administration. 

In the 11 years prior to the enactment of the Balanced Budget and 
Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, Congress enacted approximately 
$18.6 billion (or about $1.7 billion/year) of the $38 billion proposed 
for rescission by the President, while enacting approximately $11.2 
billion (or $1 billion/year) in congressionally initiated rescissions. 
From 1985 through 1990, the years under the Balanced Budget Act, 
Congress enacted approximately $355 million (or $59 million/year) of 
the $18.5 billion proposed for rescission by the President, while 
enacting approximately $29.7 billion (or about $5 billion/year) in 
congressionally initiated rescissions. From 1991 through 2002 under the 
Budget Enforcement Act of 1990, Congress enacted approximately $6 
billion (or about $498 million/year) of the $19.4 billion proposed for 
rescission by the President, while enacting approximately $82.5 billion 
(or about $6.8 billion/year) in congressionally initiated rescissions. 
Since the expiration of the Budget Enforcement Act, there have been no 
rescissions proposed by presidents but Congress enacted approximately 
$73.6 billion (or about $12.3 billion/year) in congressionally 
initiated rescissions. 

While these statistics highlight Congress's increasing use of 
rescissions, the amounts rescinded, relative to the entire federal 
budget, make clear that rescissions have not been a major tool to 
reduce spending. Under the ICA, the President can propose rescissions 
only for funding provided by annual appropriations or supplementals-- 
referred to as discretionary spending. As this Committee knows, under 
the Budget Enforcement Act, this category was constrained by statutory 
caps. Today it is limited by the totals set in the Budget Resolution. 
It is important to recognize, however, that this spending represents 
less than 40 percent of the budget. Spending growth is driven by the 
remaining part of the budget, which is spent on such programs as Social 
Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. These "mandatory programs" and 
interest on the debt represent about 60 percent of the budget. Under 
the ICA, the President cannot propose rescissions in mandatory 
spending. 

Expedited Rescission Proposals: 

This is not to say that rescissions are unimportant. Certainly, the 
President's rescission proposals can foster debate between the 
President and Congress over funding priorities and cuts in specific 
programs. To enhance accountability and further public debate over 
spending priorities, there have been a number of proposals presented in 
Congress over the years for an expedited rescission process. Although 
the details of the proposals vary, expedited rescission proposals are 
designed to ensure rapid and formal congressional consideration of 
rescissions proposed by the President. An essential element of an 
expedited rescission procedure is a prompt up-or-down vote in the 
Congress on the President's proposals to reduce enacted spending 
authority. Since budget authority is not canceled unless a law 
rescinding existing budget authority is enacted in accordance with 
Article I, section 7 of the U.S. Constitution, an expedited rescission 
process does not present the constitutional issues that led the Supreme 
Court to strike down the Line Item Veto Act. (Clinton v. City of New 
York, 524 U.S. 417 (1998).) 

The necessity for, and the form of, an expedited rescission process 
are, of course, a matter for Congress to decide. I should like to raise 
a few logistical concerns. As noted earlier, most expedited rescission 
proposals require a prompt vote within a fixed period of time--for 
example, within 10 days of the introduction of a bill containing the 
President's proposal. Any fixed time frame cedes some control over the 
congressional calendar to the President. In addition, a time frame such 
as 10 days would limit our ability to support congressional review of 
the President's proposed rescissions. 

Conclusion: 

In summary, Mr. Chairman, we believe that 35 years of experience show 
that the rescission process as designed has been used by presidents to 
advance their own priorities for spending cuts. But rescissions have 
also been increasingly used by Congress as a vehicle to express its own 
view of changing priorities, especially in an era of tight 
discretionary spending caps. As Congress has come to enact greater 
reductions in budget authority than those proposed by presidents, the 
debate has shifted from deciding whether to cut to deciding where to 
cut. 

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This concludes my prepared remarks. I would be 
happy to answer any questions you may have. 

[End of section] 

Attachment I: 

Table 1: Summary of Proposed and Enacted Rescissions, Fiscal Years 1974-
2008 (All Legislative Action Through October 1, 2008): 

Fiscal year: 2008[A]; 
Rescissions proposed by president: 0; 
Dollar amount proposed by president for rescission: $0; 
Proposals accepted by Congress: 0; 
Dollar amount of proposals enacted by Congress: $0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: 126; 
Dollar amount of rescissions initiated by Congress: $12,201,184,028; 
Total rescissions enacted: 126; 
Total dollar amount of budget authority rescinded: $12,201,184,028. 

Fiscal year: 2007[A]; 
Rescissions proposed by president: 0; 
Dollar amount proposed by president for rescission: $0; 
Proposals accepted by Congress: 0; 
Dollar amount of proposals enacted by Congress: $0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: 56; 
Dollar amount of rescissions initiated by Congress: $8,035,711,005; 
Total rescissions enacted: 56; 
Total dollar amount of budget authority rescinded: $8,035,711,005. 

Fiscal year: 2006[B]; 
Rescissions proposed by president: 0; 
Dollar amount proposed by president for rescission: $0; 
Proposals accepted by Congress: 0; 
Dollar amount of proposals enacted by Congress: $0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: 89; 
Dollar amount of rescissions initiated by Congress: $33,361,184,156; 
Total rescissions enacted: 89; 
Total dollar amount of budget authority rescinded: $33,361,184,156. 

Fiscal year: 2005; 
Rescissions proposed by president: 0; 
Dollar amount proposed by president for rescission: $0; 
Proposals accepted by Congress: 0; 
Dollar amount of proposals enacted by Congress: $0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: 76; 
Dollar amount of rescissions initiated by Congress: $6,351,133,468; 
Total rescissions enacted: 76; 
Total dollar amount of budget authority rescinded: $6,351,133,468. 

Fiscal year: 2004; 
Rescissions proposed by president: 0; 
Dollar amount proposed by president for rescission: $0; 
Proposals accepted by Congress: 0; 
Dollar amount of proposals enacted by Congress: $0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: 49; 
Dollar amount of rescissions initiated by Congress: $10,515,464,056; 
Total rescissions enacted: 49; 
Total dollar amount of budget authority rescinded: $10,515,464,056. 

Fiscal year: 2003; 
Rescissions proposed by president: 0; 
Dollar amount proposed by president for rescission: $0; 
Proposals accepted by Congress: 0; 
Dollar amount of proposals enacted by Congress: $0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: 47; 
Dollar amount of rescissions initiated by Congress: $3,123,436,524; 
Total rescissions enacted: 47; 
Total dollar amount of budget authority rescinded: $3,123,436,524. 

Fiscal year: 2002; 
Rescissions proposed by president: 0; 
Dollar amount proposed by president for rescission: $0; 
Proposals accepted by Congress: 0; 
Dollar amount of proposals enacted by Congress: $0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: 76; 
Dollar amount of rescissions initiated by Congress: $4,621,092,342; 
Total rescissions enacted: 76; 
Total dollar amount of budget authority rescinded: $4,621,092,342. 

Fiscal year: 2001; 
Rescissions proposed by president: 0; 
Dollar amount proposed by president for rescission: $0; 
Proposals accepted by Congress: 0; 
Dollar amount of proposals enacted by Congress: $0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: 67; 
Dollar amount of rescissions initiated by Congress: $5,148,137,497; 
Total rescissions enacted: 67; 
Total dollar amount of budget authority rescinded: $5,148,137,497. 

Fiscal year: 2000; 
Rescissions proposed by president: 3; 
Dollar amount proposed by president for rescission: $128,000,000; 
Proposals accepted by Congress: 0; 
Dollar amount of proposals enacted by Congress: $0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: 61; 
Dollar amount of rescissions initiated by Congress: $3,757,774,500; 
Total rescissions enacted: 61; 
Total dollar amount of budget authority rescinded: $3,757,774,500. 

Fiscal year: 1999; 
Rescissions proposed by president: 3; 
Dollar amount proposed by president for rescission: $35,040,000; 
Proposals accepted by Congress: 2; 
Dollar amount of proposals enacted by Congress: $16,800,000; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: 105; 
Dollar amount of rescissions initiated by Congress: $5,081,426,930; 
Total rescissions enacted: 107; 
Total dollar amount of budget authority rescinded: $5,098,226,930. 

Fiscal year: 1998; 
Rescissions proposed by president: 25; 
Dollar amount proposed by president for rescission: $25,260,000; 
Proposals accepted by Congress: 21; 
Dollar amount of proposals enacted by Congress: $17,276,000; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: 43; 
Dollar amount of rescissions initiated by Congress: $4,180,814,234; 
Total rescissions enacted: 64; 
Total dollar amount of budget authority rescinded: $4,198,090,234. 

Fiscal year: 1997; 
Rescissions proposed by president: 10; 
Dollar amount proposed by president for rescission: $407,111,000; 
Proposals accepted by Congress: 6; 
Dollar amount of proposals enacted by Congress: $285,111,000; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: 96; 
Dollar amount of rescissions initiated by Congress: $7,381,253,000; 
Total rescissions enacted: 102; 
Total dollar amount of budget authority rescinded: $7,666,364,000. 

Fiscal year: 1996; 
Rescissions proposed by president: 24; 
Dollar amount proposed by president for rescission: $1,425,900,000; 
Proposals accepted by Congress: 8; 
Dollar amount of proposals enacted by Congress: $963,400,000; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: 104; 
Dollar amount of rescissions initiated by Congress: $4,974,852,131; 
Total rescissions enacted: 112; 
Total dollar amount of budget authority rescinded: $5,938,252,131. 

Fiscal year: 1995; 
Rescissions proposed by president: 29; 
Dollar amount proposed by president for rescission: $1,199,824,000; 
Proposals accepted by Congress: 25; 
Dollar amount of proposals enacted by Congress: $845,388,805; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: 248; 
Dollar amount of rescissions initiated by Congress: $18,868,380,121; 
Total rescissions enacted: 273; 
Total dollar amount of budget authority rescinded: $19,713,768,926. 

Fiscal year: 1994; 
Rescissions proposed by president: 65; 
Dollar amount proposed by president for rescission: $3,172,180,000; 
Proposals accepted by Congress: 45; 
Dollar amount of proposals enacted by Congress: $1,293,478,546; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: 81; 
Dollar amount of rescissions initiated by Congress: $2,374,416,284; 
Total rescissions enacted: 126; 
Total dollar amount of budget authority rescinded: $3,667,894,830. 

Fiscal year: 1993; 
Rescissions proposed by president: 7; 
Dollar amount proposed by president for rescission: $356,000,000; 
Proposals accepted by Congress: 4; 
Dollar amount of proposals enacted by Congress: $206,250,000; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: 74; 
Dollar amount of rescissions initiated by Congress: $2,205,336,643; 
Total rescissions enacted: 78; 
Total dollar amount of budget authority rescinded: $2,411,586,643. 

Fiscal year: 1992; 
Rescissions proposed by president: 128; 
Dollar amount proposed by president for rescission: $7,879,473,690; 
Proposals accepted by Congress: 26; 
Dollar amount of proposals enacted by Congress: $2,067,546,000; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: 131; 
Dollar amount of rescissions initiated by Congress: $22,526,953,054; 
Total rescissions enacted: 157; 
Total dollar amount of budget authority rescinded: $24,594,499,054. 

Fiscal year: 1991; 
Rescissions proposed by president: 30; 
Dollar amount proposed by president for rescission: $4,859,251,000; 
Proposals accepted by Congress: 8; 
Dollar amount of proposals enacted by Congress: $286,419,000; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: 26; 
Dollar amount of rescissions initiated by Congress: $1,420,467,000; 
Total rescissions enacted: 34[C]; 
Total dollar amount of budget authority rescinded: $1,706,886,000. 

Fiscal year: 1990; 
Rescissions proposed by president: 11; 
Dollar amount proposed by president for rescission: $554,258,000; 
Proposals accepted by Congress: 0; 
Dollar amount of proposals enacted by Congress: $0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: 71; 
Dollar amount of rescissions initiated by Congress: $2,304,986,000; 
Total rescissions enacted: 71; 
Total dollar amount of budget authority rescinded: $2,304,986,000. 

Fiscal year: 1989; 
Rescissions proposed by president: 6; 
Dollar amount proposed by president for rescission: $143,100,000; 
Proposals accepted by Congress: 1; 
Dollar amount of proposals enacted by Congress: $2,053,000; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: 11; 
Dollar amount of rescissions initiated by Congress: $325,913,000; 
Total rescissions enacted: 12; 
Total dollar amount of budget authority rescinded: $327,966,000. 

Fiscal year: 1988; 
Rescissions proposed by president: 0; 
Dollar amount proposed by president for rescission: $0; 
Proposals accepted by Congress: 0; 
Dollar amount of proposals enacted by Congress: $0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: 61; 
Dollar amount of rescissions initiated by Congress: $3,888,663,000; 
Total rescissions enacted: 61; 
Total dollar amount of budget authority rescinded: $3,888,663,000. 

Fiscal year: 1987; 
Rescissions proposed by president: 73; 
Dollar amount proposed by president for rescission: $5,835,800,000; 
Proposals accepted by Congress: 2; 
Dollar amount of proposals enacted by Congress: $36,000,000; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: 52; 
Dollar amount of rescissions initiated by Congress: $12,359,390,675; 
Total rescissions enacted: 54; 
Total dollar amount of budget authority rescinded: $12,395,390,675. 

Fiscal year: 1986; 
Rescissions proposed by president: 83; 
Dollar amount proposed by president for rescission: $10,126,900,000; 
Proposals accepted by Congress: 4; 
Dollar amount of proposals enacted by Congress: $143,210,000; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: 7; 
Dollar amount of rescissions initiated by Congress: $5,409,410,000; 
Total rescissions enacted: 11; 
Total dollar amount of budget authority rescinded: $5,552,620,000. 

Fiscal year: 1985; 
Rescissions proposed by president: 245; 
Dollar amount proposed by president for rescission: $1,856,087,000; 
Proposals accepted by Congress: 98; 
Dollar amount of proposals enacted by Congress: $173,699,000; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: 12; 
Dollar amount of rescissions initiated by Congress: $5,458,621,000; 
Total rescissions enacted: 110; 
Total dollar amount of budget authority rescinded: $5,632,320,000. 

Fiscal year: 1984; 
Rescissions proposed by president: 9; 
Dollar amount proposed by president for rescission: $636,400,000; 
Proposals accepted by Congress: 3; 
Dollar amount of proposals enacted by Congress: $55,375,000; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: 7; 
Dollar amount of rescissions initiated by Congress: $2,188,689,000; 
Total rescissions enacted: 10; 
Total dollar amount of budget authority rescinded: $2,244,064,000. 

Fiscal year: 1983; 
Rescissions proposed by president: 21; 
Dollar amount proposed by president for rescission: $1,569,000,000; 
Proposals accepted by Congress: 0; 
Dollar amount of proposals enacted by Congress: $0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: 11; 
Dollar amount of rescissions initiated by Congress: $310,605,000; 
Total rescissions enacted: 11; 
Total dollar amount of budget authority rescinded: $310,605,000. 

Fiscal year: 1982; 
Rescissions proposed by president: 32; 
Dollar amount proposed by president for rescission: $7,907,400,000; 
Proposals accepted by Congress: 5; 
Dollar amount of proposals enacted by Congress: $4,365,486,000; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: 5; 
Dollar amount of rescissions initiated by Congress: $48,432,000; 
Total rescissions enacted: 10; 
Total dollar amount of budget authority rescinded: $4,413,918,000. 

Fiscal year: 1981; 
Rescissions proposed by president: 133; 
Dollar amount proposed by president for rescission: $15,361,900,000; 
Proposals accepted by Congress: 101[E]; 
Dollar amount of proposals enacted by Congress: $10,880,935,550; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: 43; 
Dollar amount of rescissions initiated by Congress: $3,736,490,600; 
Total rescissions enacted: 144; 
Total dollar amount of budget authority rescinded: $14,617,426,150. 

Fiscal year: 1980; 
Rescissions proposed by president: 59; 
Dollar amount proposed by president for rescission: $1,618,100,000; 
Proposals accepted by Congress: 34; 
Dollar amount of proposals enacted by Congress: $777,696,446; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: 33; 
Dollar amount of rescissions initiated by Congress: $3,238,206,100; 
Total rescissions enacted: 67; 
Total dollar amount of budget authority rescinded: $4,015,902,546. 

Fiscal year: 1979; 
Rescissions proposed by president: 11; 
Dollar amount proposed by president for rescission: $908,700,000; 
Proposals accepted by Congress: 9; 
Dollar amount of proposals enacted by Congress: $723,609,000; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: 1; 
Dollar amount of rescissions initiated by Congress: $47,500,000; 
Total rescissions enacted: 10; 
Total dollar amount of budget authority rescinded: $771,109,000. 

Fiscal year: 1978; 
Rescissions proposed by president: 12; 
Dollar amount proposed by president for rescission: $1,290,100,000; 
Proposals accepted by Congress: 5; 
Dollar amount of proposals enacted by Congress: $518,655,000; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: 4; 
Dollar amount of rescissions initiated by Congress: $67,164,000; 
Total rescissions enacted: 9; 
Total dollar amount of budget authority rescinded: $585,819,000. 

Fiscal year: 1977; 
Rescissions proposed by president: 20; 
Dollar amount proposed by president for rescission: $1,926,930,000; 
Proposals accepted by Congress: 9; 
Dollar amount of proposals enacted by Congress: $813,690,000; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: 3; 
Dollar amount of rescissions initiated by Congress: $172,722,943; 
Total rescissions enacted: 12; 
Total dollar amount of budget authority rescinded: $986,412,943. 

Fiscal year: 1976; 
Rescissions proposed by president: 50; 
Dollar amount proposed by president for rescission: $3,582,000,000; 
Proposals accepted by Congress: 7; 
Dollar amount of proposals enacted by Congress: $148,331,000; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: 0; 
Dollar amount of rescissions initiated by Congress: $0; 
Total rescissions enacted: 7; 
Total dollar amount of budget authority rescinded: $148,331,000. 

Fiscal year: 1975; 
Rescissions proposed by president: 87; 
Dollar amount proposed by president for rescission: $2,722,000,000; 
Proposals accepted by Congress: 38; 
Dollar amount of proposals enacted by Congress: $386,295,370; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: 1; 
Dollar amount of rescissions initiated by Congress: $4,999,704; 
Total rescissions enacted: 39; 
Total dollar amount of budget authority rescinded: $391,295,074. 

Fiscal year: 1974; 
Rescissions proposed by president: 2; 
Dollar amount proposed by president for rescission: $495,635,000; 
Proposals accepted by Congress: 0; 
Dollar amount of proposals enacted by Congress: $0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: 3; 
Dollar amount of rescissions initiated by Congress: $1,400,412,000; 
Total rescissions enacted: 3; 
Total dollar amount of budget authority rescinded: $1,400,412,000. 

Fiscal year: Subtotal: 1990-2008; 
Rescissions proposed by president: 335; 
Dollar amount proposed by president for rescission: $20,042,297,690; 
Proposals accepted by Congress: 145; 
Dollar amount of proposals enacted by Congress: $5,981,669,351; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: 1,626; 
Dollar amount of rescissions initiated by Congress: $158,434,002,973; 
Total rescissions enacted: 1,771; 
Total dollar amount of budget authority rescinded: $164,415,672,324. 

Fiscal year: Subtotal: 1974-1989; 
Rescissions proposed by president: 843; 
Dollar amount proposed by president for rescission: $55,980,052,000; 
Proposals accepted by Congress: 316; 
Dollar amount of proposals enacted by Congress: $19,025,035,366; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: 254; 
Dollar amount of rescissions initiated by Congress: $38,657,219,022; 
Total rescissions enacted: 570; 
Total dollar amount of budget authority rescinded: $57,682,254,388. 

Fiscal year: Grand Total: 1974-2008; 
Rescissions proposed by president: 1,178; 
Dollar amount proposed by president for rescission: $76,022,349,690; 
Proposals accepted by Congress: 461; 
Dollar amount of proposals enacted by Congress: $25,006,704,717; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress: 1,880; 
Dollar amount of rescissions initiated by Congress: $197,091,221,995; 
Total rescissions enacted: 2,341; 
Total dollar amount of budget authority rescinded: $222,097,926,712[D]. 

[A] The President proposed "cancellations" and rescissions in his 
budget for fiscal years 2007 and 2008 but did not submit a special 
message under the Impoundment Control Act. These were not rescission 
proposals under the Impoundment Control Act. For more information, see 
B-308011, Aug. 4, 2006. 

[B] The President sent a letter to Congress in October 2005 proposing 
the "cancellation" and rescission of $2.3 billion from 53 different 
programs. The letter was not a rescission proposal under the 
Impoundment Control Act. For more information, see B-307122, Mar. 2, 
2006. 

[C] The Military Construction Appropriations Act of 1991 approved 
certain rescissions proposed by the President in 1990 (41 days after 
the funds were released) for obligation under the Impoundment Control 
Act. Presidential rescission proposals R90-4, R90-5, and R90-10 
totaling about $41 million were not approved. 

[D] The total estimate of budget authority rescinded is understated. 
This table does not include rescissions which eliminate an indefinite 
amount of budget authority. 

[E] Thirty-three rescissions proposed by President Carter and totaling 
over $1.1 billion are not included in this table. These rescission 
proposals were converted to deferrals by President Reagan in his Fifth 
Special Message for Fiscal Year 1981 dated February 13, 1981. 

[End of table] 

[End of section] 

Attachment II: 

Table 3: Rescissions by Presidential Administration Under the 
Impoundment Control Act: 

Fiscal year: 2008[A]; 
Rescissions proposed by President G.W. Bush: 0; 
Rescissions proposed by President G.W. Bush: $0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: 0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: $0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: 0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during G.W. Bush Administration: 126; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during G.W. Bush Administration: 
$12,201,184,028. 

Fiscal year: 2007[A]; 
Rescissions proposed by President G.W. Bush: 0; 
Rescissions proposed by President G.W. Bush: $0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: 0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: $0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: 0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during G.W. Bush Administration: 56; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during G.W. Bush Administration: 
$8,035,711,005. 

Fiscal year: 2006[B]; 
Rescissions proposed by President G.W. Bush: 0; 
Rescissions proposed by President G.W. Bush: $0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: 0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: $0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: 0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during G.W. Bush Administration: 89; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during G.W. Bush Administration: 
$33,361,184,156. 

Fiscal year: 2005; 
Rescissions proposed by President G.W. Bush: 0; 
Rescissions proposed by President G.W. Bush: $0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: 0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: $0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: 0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during G.W. Bush Administration: 76; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during G.W. Bush Administration: 
$6,351,133,468. 

Fiscal year: 2004; 
Rescissions proposed by President G.W. Bush: 0; 
Rescissions proposed by President G.W. Bush: $0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: 0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: $0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: 0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during G.W. Bush Administration: 49; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during G.W. Bush Administration: 
$10,515,464,056. 

Fiscal year: 2003; 
Rescissions proposed by President G.W. Bush: 0; 
Rescissions proposed by President G.W. Bush: $0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: 0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: $0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: 0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during G.W. Bush Administration: 47; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during G.W. Bush Administration: 
$3,123,436,524. 

Fiscal year: 2002; 
Rescissions proposed by President G.W. Bush: 0; 
Rescissions proposed by President G.W. Bush: $0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: 0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: $0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: 0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during G.W. Bush Administration: 76; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during G.W. Bush Administration: 
$4,621,092,342. 

Fiscal year: 2001; 
Rescissions proposed by President G.W. Bush: 0; 
Rescissions proposed by President G.W. Bush: $0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: 0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: $0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: 0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during G.W. Bush Administration: 
0[C]; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during G.W. Bush Administration: $0. 

Fiscal year 2001-2008: Total; 
Rescissions proposed by President G.W. Bush: 0; 
Rescissions proposed by President G.W. Bush: $0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: 0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: $0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: 0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during G.W. Bush Administration: 519; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during G.W. Bush Administration: 
$78,209,205,579. 

[A] The President proposed "cancellations" and rescissions in his 
budgets for fiscal years 2007 and 2008 but did not submit a special 
message under the Impoundment Control Act. 

[B] The President sent a letter to Congress in October 2005 proposed 
the "cancellation" and rescission of $2.3 billion from 53 difference 
programs. The letter was not a rescission proposal under the 
Impoundment Control Act. For more information, see B-30712, Mar. 2, 
2006. 

[C] All appropriations bills were completed by Congress prior to the 
end of calendar year 2000. Thus, no rescissions were initiated by 
Congress during the remainder of fiscal year 2001, which coincided with 
the President's first eight months in office. 

[End of table] 

Table 4: 

Fiscal year: 2001; 
Rescissions proposed by President Clinton: Number: 0; 
Rescissions proposed by President Clinton: Dollar amount: $0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Number accepted: 0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Dollar amount: $0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Percent accepted: 0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Clinton Administration: 
Number: 67; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Clinton Administration: Dollar 
amount: $5,148,137,497. 

Fiscal year: 2000; 
Rescissions proposed by President Clinton: Number: 3; 
Rescissions proposed by President Clinton: Dollar amount: $128,000,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Number accepted: 0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Dollar amount: 0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Percent accepted: 0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Clinton Administration: 
Number: 61; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Clinton Administration: Dollar 
amount: $3,757,774,500. 

Fiscal year: 1999; 
Rescissions proposed by President Clinton: Number: 3; 
Rescissions proposed by President Clinton: Dollar amount: $35,040,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Number accepted: 2; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Dollar amount: 
$16,800,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Percent accepted: 67; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Clinton Administration: 
Number: 105; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Clinton Administration: Dollar 
amount: $5,081,426,930. 

Fiscal year: 1998; 
Rescissions proposed by President Clinton: Number: 25; 
Rescissions proposed by President Clinton: Dollar amount: $25,260,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Number accepted: 21; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Dollar amount: 
$17,276,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Percent accepted: 84; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Clinton Administration: 
Number: 43; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Clinton Administration: Dollar 
amount: $4,180,814,234. 

Fiscal year: 1997; 
Rescissions proposed by President Clinton: Number: 10; 
Rescissions proposed by President Clinton: Dollar amount: $407,111,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Number accepted: 6; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Dollar amount: 
$285,111,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Percent accepted: 60; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Clinton Administration: 
Number: 96; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Clinton Administration: Dollar 
amount: $7,381,253,000. 

Fiscal year: 1996; 
Rescissions proposed by President Clinton: Number: 24; 
Rescissions proposed by President Clinton: Dollar amount: 
$1,425,900,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Number accepted: 8; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Dollar amount: 
$963,400,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Percent accepted: 33; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Clinton Administration: 
Number: 104; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Clinton Administration: Dollar 
amount: $4,974,852,131. 

Fiscal year: 1995; 
Rescissions proposed by President Clinton: Number: 29; 
Rescissions proposed by President Clinton: Dollar amount: 
$1,199,824,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Number accepted: 25; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Dollar amount: 
$845,388,805; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Percent accepted: 86; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Clinton Administration: 
Number: 248; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Clinton Administration: Dollar 
amount: $18,868,380,121. 

Fiscal year: 1994; 
Rescissions proposed by President Clinton: Number: 65; 
Rescissions proposed by President Clinton: Dollar amount: 
$3,172,180,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Number accepted: 45; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Dollar amount: 
$1,293,478,546; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Percent accepted: 69; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Clinton Administration: 
Number: 81; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Clinton Administration: Dollar 
amount: $2,374,416,284. 

Fiscal year: 1993; 
Rescissions proposed by President Clinton: Number: 7; 
Rescissions proposed by President Clinton: Dollar amount: $356,000,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Number accepted: 4; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Dollar amount: 
$206,250,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Percent accepted: 57; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Clinton Administration: 
Number: 66; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Clinton Administration: Dollar 
amount: $1,962,511,000. 

Fiscal year 1993-2001: Total; 
Rescissions proposed by President Clinton: Number: 166; 
Rescissions proposed by President Clinton: Dollar amount: 
$6,749,315,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Number accepted: 111; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Dollar amount: 
$3,627,704,351; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Percent accepted: 67; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Clinton Administration: 
Number: 871; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Clinton Administration: Dollar 
amount: $53,729,565,697. 

Fiscal year: 1993; 
Rescissions proposed by President G.H.W. Bush: Number: 0; 
Rescissions proposed by President G.H.W. Bush: Dollar amount: $0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Number accepted: 0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Dollar amount: $0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Percent accepted: 0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during G.H.W. Bush Administration: 
Number: 8; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during G.H.W. Bush Administration: 
Dollar amount: $242,825,643. 

Fiscal year: 1992; 
Rescissions proposed by President G.H.W. Bush: Number: 128; 
Rescissions proposed by President G.H.W. Bush: Dollar amount: 
$7,879,473,690; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Number accepted: 26; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Dollar amount: 
$2,067,546,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Percent accepted: 20; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during G.H.W. Bush Administration: 
Number: 131; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during G.H.W. Bush Administration: 
Dollar amount: $22,526,953,054. 

Fiscal year: 1991; 
Rescissions proposed by President G.H.W. Bush: Number: 30; 
Rescissions proposed by President G.H.W. Bush: Dollar amount: 
$4,859,251,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Number accepted: 8; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Dollar amount: 
$286,419,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Percent accepted: 27; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during G.H.W. Bush Administration: 
Number: 26; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during G.H.W. Bush Administration: 
Dollar amount: $1,420,467,000. 

Fiscal year: 1990; 
Rescissions proposed by President G.H.W. Bush: Number: 11; 
Rescissions proposed by President G.H.W. Bush: Dollar amount: 
$554,258,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Number accepted: 0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Dollar amount: $0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Percent accepted: 0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during G.H.W. Bush Administration: 
Number: 71; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during G.H.W. Bush Administration: 
Dollar amount: $2,304,986,000. 

Fiscal year: 1989; 
Rescissions proposed by President G.H.W. Bush: Number: 0; 
Rescissions proposed by President G.H.W. Bush: Dollar amount: $0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Number accepted: 0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Dollar amount: $0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Percent accepted: 0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during G.H.W. Bush Administration: 
Number: 11; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during G.H.W. Bush Administration: 
Dollar amount: $325,913,000. 

Fiscal year 1989-1993: Total; 
Rescissions proposed by President G.H.W. Bush: Number: 169; 
Rescissions proposed by President G.H.W. Bush: Dollar amount: 
$13,292,982,690; 
[Empty]; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Number accepted: 34; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Dollar amount: 
$2,353,965,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Percent accepted: 20; 
[Empty]; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during G.H.W. Bush Administration: 
Number: 247; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during G.H.W. Bush Administration: 
Dollar amount: $26,821,144,697. 

Fiscal year: 1989; 
Rescissions proposed by President Reagan: Number: 6; 
Rescissions proposed by President Reagan: Dollar amount: $143,100,000; 
[Empty]; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Number accepted: 1; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Dollar amount: $2,053,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Percent accepted: 17; 
[Empty]; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Reagan Administration: Number: 
0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Reagan Administration: Dollar 
amount: $0. 

Fiscal year: 1988; 
Rescissions proposed by President Reagan: Number: 0; 
Rescissions proposed by President Reagan: Dollar amount: $0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Number accepted: 0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Dollar amount: $0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Percent accepted: 0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Reagan Administration: Number: 
61; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Reagan Administration: Dollar 
amount: $3,888,663,000. 

Fiscal year: 1987; 
Rescissions proposed by President Reagan: Number: 73; 
Rescissions proposed by President Reagan: Dollar amount: 
$5,835,800,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Number accepted: 2; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Dollar amount: 
$36,000,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Percent accepted: 3; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Reagan Administration: Number: 
52; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Reagan Administration: Dollar 
amount: $12,359,390,675. 

Fiscal year: 1986; 
Rescissions proposed by President Reagan: Number: 83; 
Rescissions proposed by President Reagan: Dollar amount: 
$10,126,900,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Number accepted: 4; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Dollar amount: 
$143,210,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Percent accepted: 5; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Reagan Administration: Number: 
7; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Reagan Administration: Dollar 
amount: $5,409,410,000. 

Fiscal year: 1985; 
Rescissions proposed by President Reagan: Number: 245; 
Rescissions proposed by President Reagan: Dollar amount: 
$1,856,087,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Number accepted: 98; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Dollar amount: 
$173,699,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Percent accepted: 40; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Reagan Administration: Number: 
12; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Reagan Administration: Dollar 
amount: $5,458,621,000. 

Fiscal year: 1984; 
Rescissions proposed by President Reagan: Number: 9; 
Rescissions proposed by President Reagan: Dollar amount: $636,400,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Number accepted: 3; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Dollar amount: 
$55,375,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Percent accepted: 33; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Reagan Administration: Number: 
7; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Reagan Administration: Dollar 
amount: $2,188,689,000. 

Fiscal year: 1983; 
Rescissions proposed by President Reagan: Number: 21; 
Rescissions proposed by President Reagan: Dollar amount: 
$1,569,000,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Number accepted: 0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Dollar amount: $0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Percent accepted: 0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Reagan Administration: Number: 
11; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Reagan Administration: Dollar 
amount: $310,605,000. 

Fiscal year: 1982; 
Rescissions proposed by President Reagan: Number: 32; 
Rescissions proposed by President Reagan: Dollar amount: 
$7,907,400,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Number accepted: 5; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Dollar amount: 
$4,365,486,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Percent accepted: 16; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Reagan Administration: Number: 
5; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Reagan Administration: Dollar 
amount: $48,432,000. 

Fiscal year: 1981; 
Rescissions proposed by President Reagan: Number: 133; 
Rescissions proposed by President Reagan: Dollar amount: 
$15,361,900,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Number accepted: 101; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Dollar amount: 
$10,880,935,550; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Percent accepted: 76; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Reagan Administration: Number: 
43; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Reagan Administration: Dollar 
amount: $3,736,490,600. 

Fiscal year 1981-1989: Total; 
Rescissions proposed by President Reagan: Number: 602; 
Rescissions proposed by President Reagan: Dollar amount: 
$43,436,587,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Number accepted: 214; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Dollar amount: 
$15,656,758,550; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Percent accepted: 36; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Reagan Administration: Number: 
198; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Reagan Administration: Dollar 
amount: $33,400,301,275. 

Fiscal year: 1981; 
Rescissions proposed by President Carter: Number: 33; 
Rescissions proposed by President Carter: Dollar amount: 
$1,142,364,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Number accepted: 0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Dollar amount: $0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Percent accepted: 0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Carter Administration: Number: 
0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Carter Administration: Dollar 
amount: $0. 

Fiscal year: 1980; 
Rescissions proposed by President Carter: Number: 59; 
Rescissions proposed by President Carter: Dollar amount: 
$1,618,100,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Number accepted: 34; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Dollar amount: 
$777,696,446; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Percent accepted: 58; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Carter Administration: Number: 
33; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Carter Administration: Dollar 
amount: $3,238,206,100. 

Fiscal year: 1979; 
Rescissions proposed by President Carter: Number: 11; 
Rescissions proposed by President Carter: Dollar amount: $908,700,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Number accepted: 9; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Dollar amount: 
$723,609,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Percent accepted: 82; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Carter Administration: Number: 
1; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Carter Administration: Dollar 
amount: $47,500,000. 

Fiscal year: 1978; 
Rescissions proposed by President Carter: Number: 12; 
Rescissions proposed by President Carter: Dollar amount: 
$1,290,100,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Number accepted: 5; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Dollar amount: 
$518,655,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Percent accepted: 42; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Carter Administration: Number: 
4; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Carter Administration: Dollar 
amount: $67,164,000. 

Fiscal year: 1977; 
Rescissions proposed by President Carter: Number: 7; 
Rescissions proposed by President Carter: Dollar amount: $791,552,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Number accepted: 2; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Dollar amount: 
$96,090,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Percent accepted: 29; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Carter Administration: Number: 
3; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Carter Administration: Dollar 
amount: $172,722,943. 

Fiscal year 1977-1981: Total; 
Rescissions proposed by President Carter: Number: 122; 
Rescissions proposed by President Carter: Dollar amount: 
$5,750,816,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Number accepted: 50; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Dollar amount: 
$2,116,050,446; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Percent accepted: 41; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Carter Administration: Number: 
41; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Carter Administration: Dollar 
amount: $3,525,593,043. 

Note: The 33 rescissions proposed by President Carter were converted to 
deferrals by President Reagan in his Fifth Special Message of Fiscal 
Year 1981, dated February 13, 1981. 

Fiscal year: 1977; 
Rescissions proposed by President Ford: Number: 13; 
Rescissions proposed by President Ford: Dollar amount: $1,135,378,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Number accepted: 7; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Dollar amount: 
$717,600,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Percent accepted: 54; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Ford Administration: Number: 
0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Ford Administration: Dollar 
amount: $0. 

Fiscal year: 1976; 
Rescissions proposed by President Ford: Number: 50; 
Rescissions proposed by President Ford: Dollar amount: $3,582,000,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Number accepted: 7; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Dollar amount: 
$148,331,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Percent accepted: 14; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Ford Administration: Number: 
0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Ford Administration: Dollar 
amount: $0. 

Fiscal year: 1975; 
Rescissions proposed by President Ford: Number: 87; 
Rescissions proposed by President Ford: Dollar amount: $2,722,000,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Number accepted: 38; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Dollar amount: 
$386,295,370; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Percent accepted: 44; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Ford Administration: Number: 
1; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Ford Administration: Dollar 
amount: $4,999,704. 

Fiscal year: 1974; 
Rescissions proposed by President Ford: Number: 2; 
Rescissions proposed by President Ford: Dollar amount: $495,635,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Number accepted: 0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Dollar amount: $0; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Percent accepted: 0; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Ford Administration: Number: 
3; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Ford Administration: Dollar 
amount: $1,400,412,000. 

Fiscal year 1974-1977: Total; 
Rescissions proposed by President Ford: Number: 152; 
Rescissions proposed by President Ford: Dollar amount: $7,935,013,000; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Number accepted: 52; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Dollar amount: 
$1,252,226,370; 
Presidential proposals accepted by Congress: Percent accepted: 34; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Ford Administration: Number: 
4; 
Rescissions initiated by Congress during Ford Administration: Dollar 
amount: $1,405,411,704. 

[End of table] 

[End of section] 

Footnotes: 

[1] B-310950.2, Mar. 12, 2009. 

[2] B-307122, Mar. 2, 2006. 

[3] B-308011, Aug. 4, 2006. 

[4] These congressionally initiated "rescissions" are independent of 
the Impoundment Control Act of 1974. 

[5] These estimates do not include rescissions of an indefinite amount 
of budget authority; that is, rescissions that do not cancel a specific 
dollar value at the time of enactment. 

[End of section] 

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