U.S. Representative Greg Steube has announced the introduction of a House bill aimed at ending taxpayer-funded presidential campaigns. The legislation, known as the Eliminating Leftover Expenses for Campaigns from Taxpayers (ELECT) Act of 2025, was originally introduced in the Senate by Senator Joni Ernst.
The bill seeks to permanently terminate the Presidential Election Campaign Fund and redirect any remaining funds to the U.S. Treasury to help reduce the national deficit. “For decades, American taxpayers have been forced to subsidize presidential campaigns, even those they fundamentally oppose,” said Rep. Steube. He described the fund as “a relic of the past” and called for an end to what he sees as unnecessary waste of taxpayer dollars.
Senator Ernst also voiced her support for defunding what she termed “welfare for political campaigns,” suggesting that tax dollars should not be used to benefit political consultants. “There is no better way to pay down the $36 trillion debt than by defunding welfare for political campaigns,” she stated.
The ELECT Act proposes eliminating taxpayers’ ability to allocate $3 on their federal tax returns for presidential campaign funding and aims to close down the Presidential Election Campaign Fund entirely.
The system was established in the 1970s as part of campaign finance reform but has seen little use by modern candidates. No major party presidential nominee has participated in public financing since 2008.
