With Congress’s Spending Power Under Attack, Lawmakers Must Pass the Congressional Power of the Purse Act

Washington, D.C. — Since taking office, President Donald Trump has made repeated attempts to grab the power of the purse away from Congress — efforts that may lead to a government shutdown at the end of the month. Government accountability experts are praising the reintroduction of the Congressional Power of The Purse Act, which would give Congress additional tools to check executive branch power when it comes to spending, and urging its swift passage.

Faith Williams, Director of the Effective and Accountable Government Program at the Project On Government Oversight (POGO), issued the following statement:

“We welcome the reintroduction of the Congressional Power of the Purse Act, which would restore and protect what is arguably the most powerful and potent tool Congress has: its authority over spending decisions. Overzealous presidents from both parties have undermined this power — and in turn, the will of the American people — and it’s essential that Congress reassert itself. We urge swift bipartisan passage of this important bill."

The Congressional Power of the Purse Act would implement necessary reforms like requiring more transparency around executive spending; strengthening the ability of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to monitor executive branch compliance with budget and appropriations laws; reining in the nearly unilateral executive authority in the use of emergency powers; and addressing more recent examples of executive overreach, like so-called “pocket rescissions.”