Definitions for "Unfunded mandate"
A responsibility imposed by legislation on regional or local governments with no matching funding (e.g., provision of internal workplace HIV/AIDS programmes but without provision for the costs involved).
a federal program enacted by Congress, but which must be financed by state or local governments without federal assistance
a regulation that requires a State, local, or tribal government or the private sector to incur direct costs without the Federal Government having first provided the funds to pay those costs