U.s.federal government budget9/13/2023 Clyde said it was “greatly concerning” that Congress allowed programs, agencies and entire departments to receive money for years without direct authorization. Later, in a statement to The Washington Times, Mr. “How can I, in good conscience, appropriate taxpayers’ money to an unauthorized agency?” the congressman said. He pointed out that the Justice Department hadn’t been reauthorized since 2009. If it’s unauthorized, it shouldn’t have appropriations.” Garland seemed stumped but replied: “At a high level of generality, it seems like a syllogism. “In your opinion, should unauthorized agencies or unauthorized programs in the federal government receive funding through this Appropriations Committee?” he prodded. Andrew Clyde, Georgia Republican, took the issue directly to Attorney General Merrick Garland. The Congressional Budget Office tracks unauthorized spending and said 1,108 authorizations expired before the current fiscal year and 355 more will expire during the year.ĬBP calculated that $510 billion was spent in 2023 on activities whose authorization had expired. What are you going to do if the Rules Committee says, ‘No, we’re not going to waive that provision’?” Mr. Traditionally, they waive that rule when they … bring it to the floor. “We technically are not supposed to fund anything that is not authorized. Michael Simpson of Idaho, a senior Republican and chairman of the Appropriations subcommittee that oversees Interior Department spending, raised the idea this spring during budget hearings with agency chiefs. What if they don’t waive the rule this year? Lawmakers regularly waive the no-authorization rule as part of rules governing debate on spending bills. Without funding, the program or agency can’t operate. Under a House rule, no unauthorized program is supposed to be funded. Major programs such as the Endangered Species Act and the Justice Department haven’t been officially authorized in years. In Congress, lawmakers often can’t agree on updating policies and sometimes never get around to it. On the other hand, it allocates - or appropriates - money to carry out those policies. On the one hand, it creates and sets policies for, or “authorizes,” government agencies. Malliotakis said.Īs with so much else in Washington, the mechanics are a bit arcane.Ĭongress holds the power of the purse and generally divides that into two pieces. “The lack of action to rein in unauthorized appropriations is costing Americans hundreds of billions in tax dollars,” Ms.
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