All three branches of government pay checks cease if budget deficit exceeds 1% of total outstanding debt.
Fiscal Discipline:
Implementing such a rule would impose an unprecedented level of fiscal discipline on the government. Traditionally, government spending isn’t directly linked in such a manner to the deficit or debt levels. This rule would force the government to maintain a very tight fiscal policy, where the deficit could not exceed 1% of the total outstanding debt without triggering significant consequences, namely, the cessation of paychecks. This could theoretically lead to more responsible spending but might also severely limit government flexibility in times of crisis, like economic downturns or national emergencies, where increased spending might be necessary.