Court Mandates Transparency in Federal Spending
Federal Judge Rejects Executive Overreach, Upholds Congressional Disclosure Law
U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan has ordered the Office of Management and Budget and its director, Russell Vought, to restore a public database tracking how the executive branch allocates congressional appropriations. The ruling addresses lawsuits from Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and Protect Democracy Project after the administration shuttered the database in March 2025.
The Constitution grants Congress sole authority over federal spending, requiring the executive to follow its directives. Apportionments—executive decisions on fund distribution—must align with those limits. A bipartisan 2022 law mandates these decisions be posted online within two days, ensuring oversight and accountability for taxpayer dollars.
The administration initially complied but later removed the database, claiming the law unconstitutionally interfered with presidential authority by forcing disclosure of preliminary decisions. Sullivan dismissed this as an "extravagant and unsupported theory," affirming Congress’s power to demand transparency.
The judge rejected the administration’s claims of harm from public disclosure, finding them speculative and unsupported, emphasizing that transparency poses no threat to executive functions while remaining essential for accountability.
Granting partial summary judgment under the Administrative Procedure Act, Sullivan ordered immediate database restoration and ongoing compliance. This decision reinforces fiscal responsibility by keeping executive spending visible, preventing unauthorized deviations that could burden taxpayers—a principle fiscal conservatives can champion, no matter who holds the White House.
Read the full order: HERE