{"version":"2.1.224","anchor":"managed-agents-sessions-can-carry-a-hard-dollar-spend-cap","canonical_anchor":"managed-agents-sessions-can-carry-a-hard-dollar-spend-cap","heading":"Managed Agents sessions can carry a hard dollar spend cap","tier":"notice","area":"Claude API Skill","scope":null,"heads_up":null,"url":"https:\/\/changelogs.core-directive.com\/v\/2.1.224\/e\/managed-agents-sessions-can-carry-a-hard-dollar-spend-cap","release_url":"https:\/\/changelogs.core-directive.com\/v\/2.1.224","markdown":"### Managed Agents sessions can carry a hard dollar spend cap\n\nThe bundled Claude API docs now describe a hard dollar spend cap that pauses a session idle.\n\n**What**\n\nThe bundled `claude-api` skill, the documentation Claude Code consults when you ask it to write code against the Claude API, now documents a session `budget`. It is set at create time only, in minor units and USD only, for example `{\"type\": \"limit\", \"max_list_cost\": {\"amount\": \"2500\", \"currency\": \"USD\"}}`. A session that reaches the cap pauses idle instead of terminating, and only resumes if the budget is raised or removed.\n\n**Details**\n\n- A paused session accepts only settle events: `user.tool_confirmation`, `user.tool_result`, `user.custom_tool_result`, `user.interrupt`.\n- Removing a budget is one-way; it cannot be added back to that session.\n- Raising the cap must exceed what the session already spent, otherwise the API rejects it.\n- Claude Code will generate and explain this shape whenever the skill is in use.\n\n**Evidence**\n\n`budget.max_list_cost must be greater than the session's consumed list cost`\n\n- Area: Claude API Skill\n- Names: `budget`, `max_list_cost`\n- Tier: You'll notice\n- Useful: 3\/5\n- Signal: 4\/5"}