1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

The Office of Management and Budget is systematically blocking agencies from spending money Congress already appropriated. This abuse of Category C apportionments must end immediately. Since January 2025, OMB has withheld funds from 64 accounts that never saw such restrictions before. The administration cut 100% of appropriations to 11 International Assistance accounts, with 9 still fully blocked in fiscal year 2026. Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund saw a 96.7% cut. Agriculture Conservation Operations had 100% of its resources withheld as of February 2026. These aren't delays or management tools. They're unilateral budget cuts that bypass Congress entirely. Category C apportionments jumped from 3.94% of all apportionments under Biden to 8.64% by January 2026. OMB is using a technical budget mechanism to eliminate programs you funded, including the National Endowment for Democracy, HUD's Eviction Protection Grant Program, and Commerce's Economic Development Assistance Programs. Indefinitely withholding appropriated funds violates the law prohibiting agencies from increasing, eliminating, or reducing funding as proposed in the President's budget until Congress enacts it. You need to act now. Pass legislation that exempts critical accounts from apportionment requirements or specifies apportionments directly in law. Congress controls the purse, not OMB.