Data from the execution of the 2025 Budget show that deputies and senators controlled, through , around 25% of federal investments, an expense category that includes everything from the construction of hospitals and roads to the purchase of machinery and other equipment.
The proportion increases when bodies linked to ministries are evaluated, such as public universities. According to this cut-off, 44 institutions have more than half of their budget linked to amendments, with indications exceeding 90% of this budget in nine of them.
The most notable case is the Federal Institute of Espírito Santo (Ifes), in which 99.5% of the approximately R$ 118 million committed in 2025 for investments were obtained through amendments. The organization received equipment such as microscopes, as well as solar panels, among other investments.
The list of institutions most dependent on these indications is mainly made up of
There is also around R$5.9 billion in investments earmarked for Pix amendments, a type of individual nomination sent directly to the coffers of mayors and governors.
The share of amendments in the Executive’s total investments has varied in recent years. It was 8% in 2015 and reached 43% in 2020.
For Alessandra Cardoso, political advisor at Inesc (Institute of Socioeconomic Studies), the amendments subvert public policy planning, which should take into account regional priorities and the dynamics of each institution.
“The parliamentarian sends the resource in that type of application that is easier to make viable, which does not require large projects, great technical capacity from the local Executive. And sends this resource in such a way that it can have associated personal visibility”, he states.
As an example, Cardoso points out that, as revealed by Sheetmost of the budget indicated to the Ministry of the Environment is , as it is something easier to execute.
The National Council of Institutions of the Federal Network of (Conif) states that the amendments have played a relevant role in financing, especially given the restriction of regular resources.
The entity states that the use of transfers is due to “necessity, and not as a desirable financing model”. It advocates that stable and predictable resources be guaranteed in the Budget, “reducing dependence on occasional mechanisms and ensuring structuring conditions”.
Conif also considers that federal investments have been driven by the New PAC, which injected R$745 million into the network last year, compared to R$665 million from the amendments.
The body with the highest percentage of investment per amendment, Ifes said that dependence on parliamentary nominations is a fact imposed on all local authorities, “given that the investment budget of federal institutions has successively decreased over the last few years.”
“In this way, the relationship with the benches becomes an important and necessary action for the constant improvement of the institution’s deliveries”, said the institute.
In this section, the second body with the largest share of investment coming from amendments in 2025 was the Federal Institute of Brasília, with 97.9%. The institution states that there is a “stagnation” of the budget and that, for this reason, it began to dialogue more directly with deputies and senators.
According to the institute, the amendments have also covered the cost of daily operations.
“These amendments have been applied to investment, especially in the revitalization and expansion of spaces within the campuses, such as, for example, the construction of Technological Training Centers, physical structures that combine teaching, research and extension actions to serve communities. Funding resources arising from the amendments are used to expand student stay, teaching, research, extension, art, culture, sport and innovation projects”, said the Brasília organization.
Since 2015, parliamentarians have promoted profound changes, including in the Constitution, to expand the control and volume of amendments. Today, individual and state bench nominations are mandatory, that is, mandatory payment.
Congress’ progress on the Budget became clear from 2020 onwards, when there was a jump from R$18.3 billion to R$48.5 billion in committed amendments, considering values updated for inflation. The increase was driven by the so-called rapporteur’s amendment, which the STF would declare unconstitutional in 2022.
In 2025, the government committed R$47.3 billion to amendments, considering values updated for inflation. The resource in the hands of parliamentarians in 2026 may increase, as the Budget approved in December by Congress provides for transfers. President Lula (PT) will still have to decide whether to approve or veto the amount.
