The Office of Management and Budget has issued guidance
implementing a “budget-neutrality requirement on agency
administrative actions affecting mandatory-spending programs.”
The memo said that as part of any proposed discretionary
administrative action that would increase mandatory
spending, an agency must include at least one other
proposal to offset that increase.
As part of annual budget submissions to OMB, agencies are
now required to submit a list of planned or anticipated
administrative actions that would increase mandatory
spending for that year or following years — or to notify
OMB of such an action as they become “aware that the
action is likely to occur,” according to the memo.
It added that if an action is deemed required by law,
an agency’s general counsel must submit a supporting opinion.
