Decision Matter of: Office of Management and Budget - Withholding of Ukraine Security Assistance

Abstract

In the summer of 2019, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) withheld from obligation funds appropriated to the Department of Defense (DOD) for security assistance to Ukraine. In order to withhold the funds, OMB issued a series of nine apportionment schedules with footnotes that made all unobligated balances unavailable for obligation. Faithful execution of the law does not permit the President to substitute his own policy priorities for those that Congress has enacted into law. OMB withheld funds for a policy reason, which is not permitted under the Impoundment Control Act (ICA). The withholding was not a programmatic delay. Therefore, we conclude that OMB violated the ICA.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 16, 2020
Accession Number
AD1157335

Entities

People

  • Thomas H. Armstrong

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

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  • Energy and Power Technologies
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  • Department Of Defense
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  • Public Financial Management and Budgeting