Senior Republican leader Susan Collins and Democratic counterpart Patty Murray challenge President Trump's administration over its selective approach to emergency funding allocation.
According to NewsNation, the Senate Appropriations Committee leaders have formally contested the administration's attempt to withhold portions of emergency-designated funding that Congress recently authorized.
The bipartisan push against the White House's interpretation of funding authority comes after the administration announced it would only approve 16 out of 27 appropriations designations. This selective approach has sparked concerns about the precedent it could set for future congressional funding processes.
Collins and Murray expressed their strong opposition to the administration's stance through a detailed letter addressed to Russell Vought, Trump's budget chief. The senators emphasized the legal framework that has governed appropriations for decades, arguing against the administration's selective funding approach.
In their communication, the senators highlighted the binary nature of the president's authority regarding emergency designations. They stressed that the executive branch cannot cherry-pick which emergency spending measures to approve or reject.
Collins and Murray wrote to Vought:
Just as the President does not have a line-item veto, he does not have the ability to pick and choose which emergency spending to designate. This interpretation is consistent with congressional intent and is the most logical and consistent reading of the law.
The dispute stems from a bipartisan agreement reached during Biden's presidency in 2023, which included the Fiscal Responsibility Act and established limits on defense and nondefense spending. The deal incorporated additional provisions through a separate arrangement that Republicans have consistently criticized.
The administration's recent decision impacts nearly $3 billion in funding, which it claims was improperly designated as emergency spending. Trump officials argue these allocations originated from what they describe as a problematic side deal with Democrats.
House Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington voiced support for Trump's decision, stating:
Congress often uses 'emergency' designations to shell out more money than needed, hiding the reality of increased spending from the American people. I applaud President Trump for bucking the swampy status quo and cutting billions of dollars in wasteful and unnecessary spending on behalf of the American taxpayer.
The senators pointed out the administration's failure to request changes through proper channels before the continuing resolution's enactment. They expressed particular worry about the $8 billion in housing assistance that could be affected by this new interpretation.
Both Collins and Murray emphasized their disappointment in learning about these significant changes through media reports rather than official communication channels. This breakdown in protocol has strained the collaborative relationship between Congress and the administration.
The situation has created additional tension as similar funding disputes involving the Trump administration continue to face legal challenges in various courts.
The conflict between Senate Appropriations Committee leaders and the Trump administration centers on the interpretation of emergency funding designations within recent legislation. Collins and Murray, representing both major political parties, have united to challenge Trump's selective approach to approving emergency appropriations. The dispute affects nearly $3 billion in funding and raises questions about the executive branch's authority in determining emergency designations, while potentially impacting various government programs, including $8 billion in housing assistance.
