The Trump administration plans to funnel a $130 million donation from an anonymous ally of President Donald Trump toward paying military service members during the government shutdown, the Defense Department confirmed on Friday.
However, that’s not how it works legally. Unless there is a law specifically restricting deposits in that account, whatever ulterior motives might be involved are irrelevant.
No. That’s exactly how it works, legally. It would be a violation of the Antideficiency Act. And to be clear, it isn’t about who can make a deposit…it’s about who has the authority to spend the money. That’s Congress, and only Congress. That’s why the separation of powers matters here. Without their approval, the president has no authority to use that money for any purpose, regardless of where it came from.
And by law, it has to be spent from that fund, which is under the explicit control of Congress. Using any other fund, is also illegal. There is no legal way for him to pay the troops without Congress. Period. That is the law.
So, all the way up and down, this is simply illegal.
No. That’s exactly how it works, legally. It would be a violation of the Antideficiency Act. And to be clear, it isn’t about who can make a deposit…it’s about who has the authority to spend the money. That’s Congress, and only Congress. That’s why the separation of powers matters here. Without their approval, the president has no authority to use that money for any purpose, regardless of where it came from.
And by law, it has to be spent from that fund, which is under the explicit control of Congress. Using any other fund, is also illegal. There is no legal way for him to pay the troops without Congress. Period. That is the law.
So, all the way up and down, this is simply illegal.