And once we do, it’ll send this message:
Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2025 7:48 am
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chair Rand Paul, who first raised the idea with Musk last month, told Ueland on Thursday that he hopes Trump “will use his political capital” to press Congress to “accept this money back.”
The public’s behind him,” Paul said.
The Kentucky Republican is one of the only GOP lawmakers to say publicly that Trump’s funding freezes could, if continued for months without Congress’ consent, be a violation of the decades-old Impoundment Control Act. Paul reiterated Thursday that he doesn’t think Trump “can impound direct funds indefinitely” but that a pause for a few months might be considered telegram data viable under the impoundment law enacted in 1974 to prevent presidents from withholding funding Congress has approved.
“If you get beyond Sept. 30, I think it’s gonna be pretty clear it’s been impounded,” Paul said.
It’s that same impoundment law — which Trump has publicly decried as unconstitutional — that set up the fair-game tactic allowing a president to send Congress a rescission package to approve the White House’s desired cutbacks on a simple-majority vote.
The public’s behind him,” Paul said.
The Kentucky Republican is one of the only GOP lawmakers to say publicly that Trump’s funding freezes could, if continued for months without Congress’ consent, be a violation of the decades-old Impoundment Control Act. Paul reiterated Thursday that he doesn’t think Trump “can impound direct funds indefinitely” but that a pause for a few months might be considered telegram data viable under the impoundment law enacted in 1974 to prevent presidents from withholding funding Congress has approved.
“If you get beyond Sept. 30, I think it’s gonna be pretty clear it’s been impounded,” Paul said.
It’s that same impoundment law — which Trump has publicly decried as unconstitutional — that set up the fair-game tactic allowing a president to send Congress a rescission package to approve the White House’s desired cutbacks on a simple-majority vote.