The Government Accountability Office said the White House’s Office of Management and Budget violated the Impoundment Control Act when it withheld nearly $400 million for “a policy reason,” even though the funds had been allocated by Congress. The decision was directed by the president himself, and during the House impeachment inquiry, administration officials testified that they had raised concerns about its legality to no avail. “Faithful execution of the law does not permit the president to substitute his own policy priorities for those that Congress has enacted into law,” the GAO wrote. The White House budget office promptly rejected the report’s conclusions. “We disagree with GAO’s opinion,” said Rachel Semmel, a spokeswoman for the budget office.

Source: bd News24 January 16, 2020 15:45 UTC