Bill · S. 534· Senate(119-S-534)
Presidential Allowance Modernization Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 2/12/2025
- Last activity
- 2/12/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- Sponsored by
- Joni Ernst
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Presidential Allowance Modernization Act of 2025 aims to amend the Former Presidents Act of 1958. It updates the rules regarding the annuity and monetary allowance provided to former Presidents. Under the bill, a former President receives a $200,000 annual annuity and a $200,000 annual allowance. The law introduces limitations on the monetary allowance based on the former President's adjusted gross income. Additionally, it increases the allowance for surviving spouses and updates terminology to include widowers. These changes do not apply to individuals who are already former Presidents at the time of enactment.
Yes
Would women be better off under this?+5
The bill uses gender-neutral language regarding surviving spouses.
Does this narrow the gap between how men and women are treated?+5
The bill updates language to include widowers and uses gender-neutral pronouns for surviving spouses.
Would people over 65 be better off under this?+3
The bill includes cost-of-living increases for allowances indexed to Social Security adjustments.
The opposite· 3 of 4
Would high-income households be better off under this?-3
The bill reduces the monetary allowance for former Presidents with adjusted gross incomes exceeding $400,000.
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?-3
The bill requires former Presidents to disclose tax returns or return information to the Secretary of the Treasury to receive certain allowances.
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?-2
The bill introduces income-based reductions for the monetary allowance of former Presidents earning over $400,000.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Annual Increases for Former Presidents: The bill provides for annual cost-of-living increases for both the annuity and the allowance, based on Social Security Act determinations (Section 2, subsection a, paragraph c).
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Increased Support for Surviving Spouses: The monetary allowance for a surviving spouse is increased to $100,000 per year (Section 2, subsection b, paragraph 1, subparagraph A).
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Gender Neutrality for Widows/Widowers: The bill changes the language regarding surviving spouses to include both widows and widowers, using "she or he" instead of just "she" (Section 2, subsection b, paragraph 2, subparagraph A).
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Protection Against Security Costs: The Administrator of General Services, with the Secret Service, can determine necessary increases in the allowance to cover increased costs of business caused by the security needs of a former President (Section 2, subsection a, paragraph d, paragraph 4).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Income-Based Reduction of Allowance: The monetary allowance may be reduced if the former President's adjusted gross income (and any excluded interest) exceeds $400,000 (Section 2, subsection a, paragraph d, paragraph 2, subparagraph A).
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Financial Privacy Requirements: To receive the monetary allowance, a former President may be required to disclose tax returns or return information to the Secretary of the Treasury to calculate the reduction amount (Section 2, subsection a, paragraph d, paragraph 3, subparagraph B).
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Loss of Benefits for Government Employees: The annuity and allowance are not payable during any period in which a former President holds an appointive or elective position in the Federal Government that pays more than a nominal rate (Section 2, subsection a, paragraph b, paragraph 2).
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Exclusion from New Benefits: The new rules and increases do not apply to anyone who is already a former President or a widow/widower of a former President on the date the act is passed (Section 2, subsection 4).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Women+5Good For Seniors+3Good For High Income Households-3
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Gender Equality+5
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency-3
- Economy And Finance
- Reduces Government Spending-2
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Veterans Benefits-1
- 2/12/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- Introduced in Senate