Direct Spending / Mandatory Spending (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms

Direct Spending / Mandatory Spending: Budget authority, and the resulting outlays, provided in laws other than appropriations acts.

Spending controlled outside of annual appropriations acts, specifically including the Food Stamp (now SNAP) program; also referred to as mandatory spending.

As defined by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, entitlement authority, the Food Stamp Program, and budget authority provided by law other than appropriations acts. Direct spending may be temporary or permanent, definite or indefinite (as to amount) but it is an appropriation or other budget authority made available to agencies in an act other than an appropriation act. Under expired Budget Enforcement Act (BEA) provisions, new direct spending was subject to pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) requirements.

Contrast to Discretionary Spending.

Discretionary and mandatory outlays of the US Federal Government
 


Discretionary and mandatory outlays of the US Federal Government

 

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