The present disclosure relates to dynamically scheduling resource requests in a distributed system based on usage quotas. One example method includes identifying usage information for a distributed system including atoms, each atom representing a distinct item used by users of the distributed system; determining that a usage quota associated with the distributed system has been exceeded based on the usage information, the usage quota representing an upper limit for a particular type of usage of the distributed system; receiving a first request for a particular atom requiring invocation of the particular type of usage represented by the usage quota; determining that a second request for a different type of usage of the particular atom is waiting to be processed; and processing the second request for the particular atom before processing the first request.