Sponsors (42)
Narrows executive impoundment authority, increases GAO deference/access, and makes failures to obligate appropriations judicially reviewable.
Official title: To amend the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to provide a private right of action with respect to violations of such Act, and for other purposes.
Introduced May 15, 2025 by Sam T. Liccardo · Last progress May 15, 2025
The bill strengthens congressional control, GAO enforcement, and judicial remedies to prevent unlawful withholding of appropriations and limit improper contingency spending, but does so at the cost of increased litigation, greater oversight burdens, administrative uncertainty, and reduced executive flexibility in emergencies.
Taxpayers and Congress gain stronger control and enforceability over federal spending: the bill increases GAO deference, affirms that Article III courts resolve disputes, and makes it easier to force release of lawfully appropriated funds.
Contractors, grantees, states, and other private parties can more readily sue or obtain judicial review when the Executive unlawfully withholds or fails to obligate funds, improving remedies and compliance with spending laws.
Federal officials get clearer criteria for when emergency actions qualify as budget 'contingencies,' reducing uncertainty in budget decision-making for agencies and managers.
Taxpayers, federal agencies, and contractors face more litigation and legal costs because the bill makes it easier to sue and invites judicial resolution of funding disputes.
Federal employees, state governments, and the public may see slower or constrained emergency and national-security responses because the Executive's ability to delay or reprioritize spending is limited by stricter rules and potential court orders.
Agencies and states that rely on rapid temporary funding shifts could be hampered—delaying program delivery and complicating emergency operations—by stricter contingency rules and judicial oversight.
Based on analysis of 6 sections of legislative text.
Strengthens Congress’s control over federal spending by limiting the President’s ability to withhold (impound) or delay obligating or spending funds. The bill narrows what counts as an allowable “contingency,” requires executive branch cooperation with GAO reviews and gives GAO interpretations "substantial deference," and makes agency failures to make statutorily required funds available subject to judicial review.