Stop the Baseline Bloat Act of 2025

The Stop the Baseline Bloat Act of 2025 would change how the federal budget baseline is calculated. Specifically, it amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to exclude two types of spending from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) baseline projections for discretionary appropriations: (1) resources designated as an emergency requirement, and (2) resources provided in supplemental appropriation laws. In short, the bill would prevent emergency and supplemental funding from “bloating” the baseline that Congress uses for budget enforcement and future discretionary spending planning. By moving these emergency and supplemental resources out of the baseline, the bill aims to curb the automatic upward drift in long-term budget projections that can occur when such one-time or emergency funding is counted in baseline outlooks. This could make baseline discretionary spending appear smaller in future years and affect how budgetary rules, caps, and deficit targets are applied.