House Democrats are taking proactive steps to address the threat of President-elect Donald Trump potentially utilizing impoundment to unilaterally make spending decisions for the federal government, bypassing Congress. This strategy session, led by House Budget Ranking Member Brendan Boyle and Appropriations Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro, aimed to educate their colleagues on the impoundment process.
Impoundment occurs when Congress allocates funds that the president chooses not to spend. While Democrats acknowledge the importance of reducing excess spending, particularly within the Department of Homeland Security and the Pentagon, they are wary of Trump and his allies making cuts without congressional consultation.
Notably, GOP Senator Susan Collins, the incoming Appropriations Chair, also opposes Trump's potential use of impoundments, citing concerns about violating the separation of powers.
There is historical precedent for such concerns, with Richard Nixon's misuse of impoundment following his 1972 reelection. Nixon attempted to leverage impoundment to advance his policy agenda, leading to the passage of the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to restrict presidential authority in this area.
Given Trump's past actions, including withholding funds from Ukraine, Democrats fear he may resort to impoundment to implement spending cuts recommended by figures like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy without congressional input.
The bipartisan opposition to Trump's potential use of impoundment underscores the importance of upholding the balance of powers between the executive and legislative branches.
