For those of you concerned with the huge spending in the BBB, know this — even with the Big Beautiful Bill now passed, rescission remains a live option for cutting spending, though its scope and political viability are more limited post-enactment.
Rescission is a presidential tool to propose canceling previously approved budget authority. Under the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, the president can send a rescission request to Congress, which then has 45 days to approve it via a simple majority in both chambers.
Procedurally, rescission is still viable because it applies to unobligated funds — even after a bill like BBB is passed.
Politically, it’s trickier. The BBB passed by a razor-thin margin (218–214), and any rescission effort could reopen intra-party tensions, especially it targets programs that moderates or rural-state Republicans support.
Strategically, rescission could serve as a pressure valve for fiscal conservatives who feel the BBB didn’t go far enough in cutting spending.
Know this — rescission is still on the table — but it’s more of a scalpel than a chainsaw. It won’t reverse the structural spending increases in the BBB, but it could trim around the edges and signal continued fiscal discipline.
Yes, rescission is still possible, albeit as you note, at a limited scope.
And I assume Harry Reid’s poison pill is also still viable - he appointed the Senate Parliamentarian, supposedly non-partisan but in fact is anything but.
At this point, I think it is all about the trend. Setting a culture of responsibility was never going to easy.