# Plain Language Summary: Stop Bankrupting Our Country Act

This bill would put a hard cap on how much the federal government can spend each year. Starting in 2025, total federal spending couldn't grow beyond what was spent the previous year, plus an adjustment for inflation and population growth. So if the government spent $6 trillion one year, the next year's budget could only increase by roughly the rate of inflation plus the percentage the U.S. population grew. Congress could override this limit, but only if two-thirds of both the House and Senate vote to do so—a very high bar that rarely happens.

If the government accidentally spends more than this limit allows, an automatic process called "sequestration" kicks in. The Office of Management and Budget would calculate how much was overspent and then cut that amount proportionally from federal programs. This is similar to a forced across-the-board budget cut. However, certain programs like Social Security and Medicare would be protected from these cuts, just as they are under current budget rules. The cuts would apply to everything else—defense, education, infrastructure, and other discretionary programs.

The practical effect would be significant: federal spending would essentially be frozen in real terms, only growing to match inflation and population increases. This means the government couldn't expand existing programs or start new ones without cutting something else. Supporters argue this prevents the government from overspending and accumulating debt. Critics worry it could force painful cuts to services people rely on and limit the government's ability to respond to emergencies or invest in future needs. The bill notably excludes interest payments on the national debt from the spending limit, meaning those payments would continue regardless of the cap.