What Are Unfunded Mandates?

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Definition

An unfunded mandate is when a state, local, or tribal government must perform certain actions or offer certain programs but doesn't get any federal funds to make it happen.

Key Takeaways

  • Congress enacts unfunded mandates when it passes laws without providing the funds for them.
  • These mandates affect state, local, or tribal governments, as well as large private organizations.
  • In 2019, the CBO said that mandates should not exceed $82 million for governments and $164 million for the private sector.

Definition and Examples of Unfunded Mandates

Unfunded mandates result when the federal government passes laws that require other levels of government to do or offer certain things without also providing funds for them. These laws can affect state, local, or tribal governments.

Often, when federal laws are passed, they include funding for whatever must happen as a result. When they don't, the programs they create are unfunded. But they are still mandatory. This is why they are known as unfunded mandates.

Reducing federal funds to administer Food Stamps or other welfare programs, for example, creates unfunded mandates. State and local governments must still offer these programs at the level federal laws require.

In 1998, Congress reduced federal funds for states to administer the food stamp program. That cost the states between $200 million and $300 million a year. 

Unfunded mandates can also affect private sector individuals and organizations.

Important

Some local leaders argue that most of a state or city's budget is made up of activities designed to fulfill federal laws.

How Do Unfunded Mandates Work?

Congress often passes laws that impact other levels of government. Often, these laws will be part of the federal budget. Congress will appropriate funds to enact them.

Sometimes Congress doesn't appropriate funds. But the laws still must be followed. This is when unfunded mandates result.

The federal government also creates an unfunded mandate when it reduces a group's ability to pay for an existing mandate. It does this in three ways:

  1. Cutting funds for the program
  2. Changing the requirements to get funds
  3. Interfering with a government's ability to raise funds through taxes

Those affected by unfunded mandates claim they are unfair. This doesn't always mean the laws themselves are unfair. The argument is that Congress shouldn't create laws for other bodies without providing the funding.

Here are some examples of unfunded mandates:

  1. Cutting federal matching funds for states to administer child support enforcement
  2. Requiring public transit agencies to upgrade security, training, and background checks
  3. Requiring commuter railroads to install train control technology

Unfunded mandates only became an issue during the 1970s and 1980s. Prior to that, Congress made sure there was funding for the states to fulfill federal requirements. When Congress began cutting the funds, states weren't happy about the extra burden.

Notable Happenings

Many laws either create unfunded mandates or are meant to respond to them.

No Child Left Behind Act of 2001

Congress created an unfunded mandate with the No Child Left Behind Act. States and school districts argue they have many costs that aren't paid for by federal funding.

But federal judges ruled that the states could opt out of the program. That makes it voluntary; thus, it is no longer a mandate. 

Internet Tax Nondiscrimination Act of 2004

Another unfunded mandate was the Internet Tax Nondiscrimination Act of 2004. It said states couldn't collect sales taxes on internet purchases. This cost states between $80 million and $100 million in annual income.

Note


Not every example that is often used for unfunded mandates is so clear-cut. States, counties, and cities must administer national elections, and they don't receive federal funds to do so. But most of them have their own elections at the same time. The additional cost is minimal.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

On March 15, 1995, Congress passed the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA). The Act says the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) must identify and estimate the costs of any unfunded mandates.

That includes bills proposed by Congress. It also includes regulations set by federal agencies.

The thresholds are adjusted every year for inflation. The 2019 threshold was $82 million for intergovernmental mandates. It was $164 million for private-sector mandates.

Any Congressional committees that propose such bills must show where the funding will come from. If they don't, then the bill will be removed. It will only move forward if a majority vote keeps it alive.

These rules are not automatically enforced; A member of Congress must raise an objection in order for a bill to be removed due to an unfunded mandate.

 Year  Bills Reviewed by CBO  No. of Laws with Mandates No. of Mandates No. of Mandates Over Limit Percent of Mandates Over Limit
2007-2013 1198 283 691 102 14.76%
2014 224 42 79 5 6.33%
2015 115 27 72 8 11.11%
2016 214 41 86 4 4.65%
2017  97  15  36 3 8.33%
2018  313  63  194 6 3.09%
2019  105  13  52 5 9.62%

As a result of the UMRA, the number of unfunded mandates has been trending down. It is still more common, though, for Congress to pass unfunded mandates that affect the private sector than the public sector.

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Sources
The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Congressional Research Service. “Unfunded Mandates Reform Act: History, Impact, and Issues,” Page 1. Accessed Sept. 3, 2021.

  2. Congressional Research Service. “Unfunded Mandates Reform Act: History, Impact, and Issues,” Page 21-22. Accessed Sept. 3, 2021.

  3. Congressional Research Service. “Unfunded Mandates Reform Act: History, Impact, and Issues,” Page 20. Accessed Sept. 3, 2021.

  4. Congressional Research Service. “Unfunded Mandates Reform Act: History, Impact, and Issues,” Page 21. Accessed Sept. 3, 2021.

  5. New America. “NCLB and Funding Controversy,” Accessed Sept. 3, 2021.

  6. General Services Administration. “Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.” Accessed Sept. 3, 2021.

  7. Congressional Budget Office. “CBO’s Activities Under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.” Accessed Sept. 3, 2021.

  8. Congressional Budget Office. “CBO’s Activities Under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act,” Download "Laws Enacted Between 2007 and 2019 That Contain Mandates." Accessed June 28, 2021.

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