1. United States
2. Conn.
3. Letter

The Constitution clearly establishes that the power of the purse lies with Congress, not the President. Allowing the executive branch to unilaterally slash funding for vital programs like food assistance, education, healthcare, and law enforcement would undermine our democratic system of checks and balances. Congress alone has the authority to decide how taxpayer dollars are appropriated and obligated. Any attempt by the President to bypass the legislative process and impound funds for policy reasons would be a dangerous overreach of executive power. We must preserve the separation of powers and Congress's constitutional prerogative to control federal spending. The Impoundment Control Act reaffirmed these principles and set strict procedures the President must follow if proposing to rescind or defer funding that has already been lawfully appropriated by Congress. Upholding these long-standing rules is essential to protecting our democratic institutions and ensuring the federal government works for the American people.