Earmarks are small grants to programs and projects in congressional districts. They are funds provided by Congress for projects or programs that curtail the ability of the Executive Branch to manage critical aspects of the funds allocation process. Typically, a legislator seeks to insert earmarks that direct a specified amount of money to a particular organization or project in their home state or district. Earmarks are also known as "congressionally directed spending requests" or "community project funding requests".
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) defines earmarks as funds provided by Congress for projects or programs where the congressional direction (in bill or report language) circumvents the merit-based or competitive allocation process, or specifies the location or recipient. The OMB has used this definition to gather data on earmarks internally. This definition is similar to the definition that the Congress recently developed for disclosing earmarks in spending legislation.
In the past, members of Congress did not have to identify themselves or the project for earmarks. However, the process of earmarking was substantially reformed since the 110th United States Congress between January 3, 2007, and January 3, 2009. The House Rules impose disclosure requirements for earmarks, while a standing rule of the Republican Conference has, since the 114th Congress, imposed an "earmark moratorium".
