SLC Times

Senator Mike Lee has introduced a bill aimed at repealing the Impoundment Control Act (ICA) of 1974, arguing that it restricts the President's constitutional authority to manage federal spending. Congressman Andrew Clyde has presented a similar bill in the House.

"The Impoundment Control Act is a Watergate-era relic of misguided overreach," stated Senator Lee. He emphasized that for nearly two centuries, presidents had the power to impound funds as a check on excessive spending. According to Lee, the ICA's limitations have led to fiscal challenges and repealing it would restore constitutional balance and enable the President to curb unnecessary spending.

Representative Clyde echoed these sentiments, stating, "Rolling back the unconstitutional Impoundment Control Act is one of the most effective ways Congress can help President Trump in the fight to deliver the spending cuts and government efficiency that the American people overwhelmingly voted for." He highlighted that every president from George Washington to Richard Nixon had this power until it was curtailed by the ICA. Clyde pointed out that since then, national debt and federal spending have increased significantly.

The concept of impoundment refers to the President's authority under Article II of the Constitution to decline spending funds appropriated by Congress. This power was historically used by presidents to manage wasteful expenditures and address financial emergencies. The passage of the ICA during the post-Watergate era marked a shift in this presidential capability, which supporters of its repeal argue has contributed to rising national debt and fiscal instability.