OP-ED by Representative Paul Gosar (AZ-09)
As Congress prepares to reconvene in Washington, DC, the House and Senate have agreed upon a budget reconciliation framework that aims to uncover at least $1.5 trillion in federal spending deemed excessive. This initiative is poised to provide permanent tax relief to all Americans while advancing President Trump’s America First agenda.
The search for savings need not be exhaustive; a logical first step would be to examine and potentially rescind many of the 40 active national emergency declarations that linger from as far back as the Carter Administration.
These declarations, established under the National Emergencies Act, were originally intended for times of genuine crises—think natural disasters, wars, or pandemics. They endow presidents with the power to act swiftly during emergencies, redirecting funds from pre-approved congressional programs to tackle urgent issues.
However, it is crucial to recognize that national emergencies are not designed to be perpetual. In fact, the ongoing nature of these declarations has incurred a staggering cost to taxpayers, amounting to over $14 trillion thus far, according to DOGE.
As Congress deliberates on how to finance President Trump’s expansive budget reconciliation bill, now presents an opportune moment to scrutinize these emergency declarations and assess their current relevance. The rationale is straightforward: it’s the law. Section 202 of the National Emergencies Act stipulates that Congress must engage in debate and vote to terminate a national emergency within six months of its declaration, and subsequently every six months thereafter. Yet, Congress rarely follows through on this obligation.
Should these emergency declarations be deemed unnecessary, it is imperative that Congress votes to terminate them. I take pride in being the only member of Congress to have had legislation terminating a national emergency signed into law. Two years ago, Joe Biden enacted my bill which ended the COVID-19 national emergency declaration, effectively curtailing trillions in spending that was no longer justified.
Have you ever pondered the financial toll of the COVID-19 pandemic? The total expenditure reached an eye-watering $6.4 trillion. Yes, trillion—an incomprehensible figure. Yet, the unsettling truth is that neither Congress nor the American populace knows exactly how much of that $6.4 trillion was actually disbursed. Despite the legal requirement for President Biden to report national emergency spending to Congress within 90 days of the emergency’s termination, he has failed to do so. It has been two years since my bill was signed, and Congress remains in the dark regarding the utilization of those funds.
If the DOGE experience has taught us anything, it’s reasonable to suspect that billions earmarked for COVID-19 remain unspent. It is time for Congress to demand accountability for the unspent funds allocated for the COVID-19 national emergency, along with the other 40 active national emergencies. Following that, Congress must recover those unutilized dollars and apply them towards financing President Trump’s budget resolution.
Let’s gather the receipts, reclaim the unspent funds, and I am confident that Congress will uncover significant savings, perhaps even enabling deeper cuts to wasteful expenditures.
