Trump Administration Violated the Impoundment Control Act by Withholding Funding, GAO Reports

Trump Administration Violated the Impoundment Control Act by Withholding Funding, GAO Reports

Merkley Has Called on GAO to Investigate the Trump Administration's Violations of the Impoundment Control Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) published additional findings that the Trump Administration violated the Impoundment Control Act by withholding funds appropriated for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the following statement.

"The administration's decision to withhold this funding is not only irresponsible but illegal. These funds were appropriated by Congress and signed into law, and no matter what Donald Trump and Russ Vought think, they cannot unilaterally cancel these grants.

"Donald Trump is not a king, and the laws of our land are not suggestions. Congressional Republicans need to stop placating the administration and start holding Trump and his administration accountable for not following the law," said Ranking Member Jeff Merkley.

Merkley has led the charge in calling on GAO to investigate the Trump Administration illegally impounding funds.

Below are key excerpts from the GAO's determination:

"Currently available evidence indicates that FEMA has violated the ICA by improperly withholding or delaying the obligation or expenditure of budget authority."

"The Constitution also gives Congress the exclusive power to legislate and sets forth the procedures of bicameralism and presentment, through which the President may accept or veto a legislative bill passed by both houses of Congress and Congress may subsequently override a presidential veto. This process does not grant the President the authority to pass his own laws or to ignore or amend a law duly enacted by Congress. Instead, the President must 'faithfully execute' the law as Congress enacts it. It follows from this that Executive Orders cannot function to repeal or undo legislation."

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