When the US government uses emergency funding in the billions or even trillions, where is it getting the money from?

Question

When the US government uses emergency funding in the billions or even trillions, where is it getting the money from?

In: Economics

Answer 1

The executive branch, with a few exceptions, can only expend funds consistent with how Congress has authorized those funds to be spent. Congress (usually) passes an annual budget. When Congress does this it will tell the executive branch how to spend the money it has raised through taxes. One or more of the items on this budget will be flexible and allow for emergency spending. Of course this is assuming that the executive spends from a budget rather than from some surplus that hasnt been ear marked.