A bill to require agencies submit zero-based budgets.

Bill 118 s 201, also known as the Zero-Based Budgeting Act, is a proposed piece of legislation in the US Congress that aims to require federal agencies to submit zero-based budgets. Zero-based budgeting is a budgeting process where each department or program's budget starts from zero each year, and must justify every dollar requested, rather than simply basing the budget on the previous year's funding levels.

The bill would mandate that federal agencies go through a thorough review of their budgets, identifying and justifying every expense in order to ensure that taxpayer dollars are being spent efficiently and effectively. This process would help to eliminate wasteful spending and ensure that funds are allocated to programs and initiatives that are truly necessary and beneficial.

Supporters of the bill argue that zero-based budgeting promotes fiscal responsibility and accountability, as it forces agencies to prioritize their spending and justify their budget requests. By requiring agencies to start from scratch each year, it also encourages them to constantly evaluate and improve their operations, leading to more efficient use of taxpayer dollars. Opponents of the bill may argue that implementing zero-based budgeting could be time-consuming and resource-intensive for agencies, potentially diverting attention and resources away from their core missions. They may also argue that the process could be overly burdensome and bureaucratic, leading to delays in funding and implementation of important programs. Overall, Bill 118 s 201 represents an effort to improve the budgeting process within federal agencies and ensure that taxpayer dollars are being spent wisely. It will be important for Congress to carefully consider the potential benefits and drawbacks of zero-based budgeting as they debate and ultimately vote on this legislation.