An emerging conflict is taking shape between President Donald Trump and Senate Republicans concerning government expenditures, with possible escalation approaching the upcoming financing deadline.

The New York Times stated on Wednesday
That the Senate Appropriations Committee, which is led by Republicans, is taking steps to stop the Trump administration from halting the release of federal funds included in congressional budget legislation. Chairwoman Susan Collins (R-Maine) stated that previously, leaders of agencies under both Democratic and Republican presidents followed the committee’s recommendations regarding fund allocation before Trump’s second term.

“In this administration, it’s evident that we must incorporate much more of the discussion about how funds should be allocated directly into the legislation,” she stated.

READ MORE:


Staff members felt “powerless” as an “incoherent” Trump showed “shocking lack of knowledge,” according to a biographer.

For many years, advice regarding the use of federal funding was included in voluntary policy documents. Nevertheless, some senators are considering incorporating this direction into formal budget legislation. The
Times
noted that the funding law for the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice now features comprehensive charts which were absent from previous spending bills. Moreover, the legislation contains specific guidelines detailing how grant awards and contract cancellations must be communicated to Congress, along with regulations regarding potential large-scale workforce reductions in federal departments.

“I think representatives in Congress who understand their constituencies and regions should determine where public funds are allocated—rather than anonymous government officials, and not any president who mistakenly thinks they have control over spending decisions rather than Congress,” said Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the top-ranking member of the Appropriations Committee.
Times
.

According to Murray, the authority of Congress regarding federal expenditures is clearly stated in
Section 8 of Article I of the United States Constitution
which states: “Congress shall have authority to impose and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excise taxes, to settle debts, and to ensure national defense and overall well-being of the United States.” Murray also condemned a move by Russell Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, to remove a government website monitoring how the Trump administration allocated money authorized by Congress. She claimed this action demonstrated an attempt by the administration to “illegitimately and covertly increase control over funds approved by Congress.”

Senate Republican lawmakers had earlier expressed opposition to Vought and the Trump administration’s decision to hold back funds that were approved by Congress for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Fourteen Republicans, primarily from strongly conservative states, took this stance.
submitted a letter to the administration last month
pressing the OMB to stay away from the vast amounts of money allocated for scientific studies, such as those aimed at finding solutions to life-threatening illnesses.

READ MORE:


Trump “in disarray”: Calls for explanations regarding his “exceptionally close” connection with Epstein

Click here
to read the
Times
full report (requires subscription).

Related Articles:

・

What are you up to?” A former government employee replies to a Republican senator who labeled him a “joker

・

“Revert your choice”: 10 Republican Senate members urge the Trump administration to cease using funds as leverage

・

‘Criticized’: 14 Republican Senators Urge Trump to Cease Withholding Funds From Their States