Bill Would Force High-Ranking Feds to Take Annual Training on Budget Process
As the Trump Administration threatens to withhold funds that were appropriated by Congress, Democrats are hoping to send them back to school.
Legislation was introduced that would require federal employees who are GS-11 or higher to take annual training on the federal appropriations process to ensure understanding and compliance with appropriations laws. If they fail to take the training, federal employees would face suspension from making fiscal decisions at their agency.
“The Power of the Purse rests with Congress. That is established quite clearly in the Constitution, and it has been repeatedly affirmed by the Supreme Court. This Administration has demonstrated time and again a lack of understanding — or worse, deliberate disregard for the direction Congress provides through the Appropriations process,,” said Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), who introduced the Appropriations Compliance and Training Act (H.R. 4230).
That was echoed by cosponsor Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee.
“Whether they are a Democrat or a Republican, nobody should be managing American Taxpayers' hard-earned money if they do not understand the law. This is a common-sense requirement to defend Congress’s power of the purse and reaffirm its constitutional authority over government funding,” said Rep. DeLauro.
In addition to the training requirements, agency leaders must report the names of each employee who completed the training to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) each year. Besides the suspension from fiscal decisions, raises and bonuses may also be held from employees who fail to complete the training until they comply.
The legislation was referred to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
This comes as OMB Director Russell Vought has floated using impoundment, or when an administration refuses to execute Congressionally appropriated funds, to sidestep Congress to cut programs.
