Event

VIRTUAL EVENT: Impoundments

March 31, 2025

An expert webinar on the past, present, and future of impoundments.

Impoundments refer to when a president (or other executive branch officer) unilaterally delays or withholds congressionally enacted funding. As a general rule, the “power of the purse” gives Congress the plenary capacity to approve and appropriate funding. Once legislation is enacted, the Executive Branch is responsible for administering funding in accordance with the statute.

A 1974 law—the Impoundment Control Act—was passed to curb prior abuses by the Executive Branch in refusing to spend congressionally appropriated funds based on policy differences. But recent actions from the administration have called all of that into question.

We will host an expert webinar on Tuesday, April 22 at 12 noon ET to discuss impoundments, the Impoundment Control Act, and how much latitude the current Executive Branch has to impound funding:

We will also assess the administration’s stance that the Impoundment Control Act is unconstitutional, and whether the courts are likely to agree. To discuss this important topic, our webinar will feature Prof. Zachary Price of UC San Francisco, William Ford of Protect Democracy, Dr. Philip Wallach of AEI, and Gregg Nunziata, the Society’s executive director.

This event will be on the record and open to press; for media inquiries, please contact Communications Director Tony Franquiz at [email protected].