Dollar-for-Dollar Deficit Reduction Act
Latest action (10 Aug 2026): Introduced
What this bill does
H.R. 10078, introduced August 10, 2026 by Rep. Gregory Steube (R-FL17), would require that any future increase or suspension of the federal debt limit be matched by equal spending cuts over the following ten years. In practical terms, the bill would tie Congress's ability to raise or suspend the debt ceiling to an offsetting reduction in federal spending of equivalent size, spread over a decade.
The bill's direct effects would be on federal budget and appropriations processes rather than on individuals or businesses directly. Any future debt-limit legislation would need to be paired with corresponding spending-cut provisions, which could affect how Congress structures future budget negotiations, and indirectly affect federal agencies and programs subject to spending decisions.
The bill has just been introduced in the 119th Congress and has not yet been assigned to committee action beyond introduction, based on the information available. Its only recorded action so far is its introduction on August 10, 2026.
The full text of the bill has not yet been published, so specific mechanisms — such as how cuts would be calculated, which programs might be affected, or enforcement provisions — are not yet known. A more detailed summary will be possible once the bill text is released.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Dollar-for-Dollar Deficit Reduction Act
The bill establishes a framework to require legislation that increases or suspends the public debt limit to include spending reductions that are equal to or greater than the projected increase in debt that will occur under the legislation. The bill allows the spending reductions to be phased in over the period that includes the current and next 10 fiscal years.
Specifically, the bill requires the Department of the Treasury to notify the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee when it determines that the federal government will reach the debt limit within 60 days without the implementation of extraordinary measures. The notification must also indicate when extraordinary measures may be necessary to prolong the funding of the federal government in the absence of a debt limit increase.
In addition, the bill requires any formal presidential request to increase the debt limit to include (1) the amount of the proposed increase, and (2) proposed legislation to reduce spending by an amount that is equal to or greater than the amount of the requested increase.
Finally, the bill establishes budget points of order that may be raised in the House of Representatives and the Senate against legislation that increases or suspends the debt limit and does not contain net spending reductions that are equal to or greater than the increase in the debt that will occur under the legislation.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 10078 do?
- H.R. 10078, introduced August 10, 2026 by Rep. Gregory Steube (R-FL17), would require that any future increase or suspension of the federal debt limit be matched by equal spending cuts over the following ten years. In practical terms, the bill would tie Congress's ability to raise or suspend the debt ceiling to an offsetting reduction in federal spending of equivalent size, spread over a decade. The bill's direct effects would be on federal budget and appropriations processes rather than on individuals or businesses directly. Any future debt-limit legislation would need to be paired with corresponding spending-cut provisions, which could affect how Congress structures future budget negotiations, and indirectly affect federal agencies and programs subject to spending decisions. The bill has just been introduced in the 119th Congress and has not yet been assigned to committee action beyond introduction, based on the information available. Its only recorded action so far is its introduction on August 10, 2026. The full text of the bill has not yet been published, so specific mechanisms — such as how cuts would be calculated, which programs might be affected, or enforcement provisions — are not yet known. A more detailed summary will be possible once the bill text is released.
- Has H.R. 10078 become law?
- Not yet. As of 10 Aug 2026, H.R. 10078 is introduced.
- Who sponsored H.R. 10078?
- H.R. 10078 was sponsored by Rep. Gregory Steube [R-FL17] (Republican-FL), with 0 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 10078?
- Introduced (10 Aug 2026).
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