In a report required by law, CBO provides estimates of the caps on discretionary funding for each fiscal year through 2021. CBO concludes that the discretionary appropriations provided to date for 2017 do not exceed the caps for this year.
By August 15 of each year, CBO is required by law to issue a report that provides estimates of the caps on discretionary budget authority in effect for each fiscal year through 2021. CBO has slightly revised its estimates of the caps since it issued its previous report on the topic in May. But CBO’s assessment in that earlier report—that discretionary appropriations for 2017 do not exceed the caps—remains unchanged. Therefore, by CBO’s estimates, a sequestration (or cancellation of budgetary resources) will not be required as a result of appropriation actions this year.
However, the authority to determine whether a sequestration is required (and if so, exactly how to make the necessary cuts in budget authority) rests with the Administration’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB). That agency, in a sequestration report issued in May, also found that appropriations for 2017 did not exceed the caps—and no appropriations have been enacted since then.
