# The CUTS Act: Taking Back Unspent COVID and Infrastructure Money

This bill would take back billions of dollars that the federal government hasn't spent yet from COVID-19 relief programs and certain infrastructure projects. The money would then be redirected to pay for foreign aid that Congress approved in 2024, specifically assistance to Israel, Ukraine, and Indo-Pacific countries. Think of it like a household deciding to cancel some planned home improvements to free up money for an unexpected expense.

The bill targets two main sources of funds. First, it would reclaim any unspent money from the major COVID relief packages passed between 2020 and 2021—including the CARES Act, the Paycheck Protection Program, and the American Rescue Plan. Second, it would take back unused funds from specific infrastructure and education programs, including money set aside for school stabilization, air quality and congestion improvement projects, carbon reduction initiatives, and disaster protection programs. The total amount rescinded would be limited to whatever was actually appropriated for the foreign aid in 2024.

For most everyday Americans, this bill's impact depends on whether they benefit from programs that still have unspent money. If you work in education, transportation, or environmental sectors that rely on these funds, projects in your area could be delayed or canceled if money hasn't been committed yet. States and local governments planning infrastructure improvements might lose funding they were counting on. However, if these funds have already been obligated (meaning they've been formally committed to specific projects), this bill wouldn't affect them. The bill essentially asks: do we have money sitting unused that we can redirect to foreign assistance instead of keeping it available for domestic programs?