The Government Accountability Office said Thursday that the Transportation Department’s pause on funding for a Biden administration electric vehicle charging program is illegal under the 1974 law restricting a president’s ability to block or “impound” money appropriated by Congress.
The determination is the GAO’s first slap on the Trump administration’s wrist for its impoundment of congressionally approved funds. The decision supports Democrats’ view that the administration’s funding freezes across a host of agencies is illegal under the 1974 law, known as the Impoundment Control Act.
Top Democrats on the House and Senate Budget committees had asked for the GAO’s opinion, and the agency said it is reviewing other potential impoundments.
