Trump, Musk are setting up a fight around a Watergate-era law

[mahatmakanejeeves]

The early Trump and Musk fights over spending could be just a taste of the chaos to come

Ben Werschkul • Washington Correspondent
Wed, February 5, 2025 at 3:19 PM EST 6 min read

Some high-profile fights in the early weeks of the Trump administration are linked together by the question of presidential spending authority. ... And it could be just a small taste of what's to come.

At issue is whether a president can take spending laws passed by Congress as suggestions instead of edicts. The debate has centered on multiple topics, from a short-lived plan for a federal spending "freeze" to Elon Musk's effort to reorganize entire agencies.

The latest front is the Senate floor, where Democrats launched an effort Wednesday afternoon to hold the upper chamber "all night" over an outspoken nominee on the issue. ... "I see this as simply the start of what's going to be a long, drawn-out effort," said William Hoagland of the Bipartisan Policy Center in a recent interview about early developments.

The tactic at issue goes by the technical name of "impoundment," a reference to what happens when congressionally appropriated money simply isn't spent by the president's executive branch. ... It's a concept that Trump made part of his 2024 campaign — and Musk embraced during the transition — and is likely to end up before the Supreme Court.

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[Diraven]

1. Even if the courts rule against impoundment

They'll just ignore the ruling.

[LymphocyteLover]

2. How is impoundment as used by these MAGA goons different from a line-item veto?