Chairman Yarmuth’s Statement on Trump’s Attempt to Withhold Federal Support from State and Local Governments Amid Global Pandemic

Washington, D.C.— Today, Kentucky Congressman John Yarmuth, Chairman of the House Budget Committee, issued a statement on President Trump’s latest Executive Order. The Executive Order endorses, among other things, the withholding of Federal support from State and Local governments and law enforcement that the Administration views as having ‘failed to protect public monuments, memorials, and statues from destruction or vandalism.’

“Using the Executive Branch to directly punish our communities and divide the American people is shameful. To do it during a pandemic is immoral,” said Chairman Yarmuth. “The Constitution grants Congress the power of the purse, not the President. The federal government is not his to exploit for his personal whims or to advance his re-election ambitions. Every member of the Trump Administration swears an oath to uphold the Constitution and protect the rights of the American people. We intend to hold them to it.”

Led by Chairman Yarmuth, the House Budget Committee is working to protect and strengthen Congress’ power of the purse. Chairman Yarmuth has introduced legislation to both increase executive transparency and add teeth to the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (ICA), the law broken by the Administration last year when the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) illegally impounded foreign aid to Ukraine.

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