Rachel Snyderman

This is Planet Money from NPR.

This is Planet Money from NPR.

Well, the distinction with Nixon is also the frequency and the scope at which he impounded funds. I mean, in 1973, he impounded nearly one third of all discretionary spending.

Well, the distinction with Nixon is also the frequency and the scope at which he impounded funds. I mean, in 1973, he impounded nearly one third of all discretionary spending.

And really refresher of, you know, what are the real checks and balances when it comes to the federal budget process as we head into a very busy year for fiscal policy and, of course, a new administration.

And really refresher of, you know, what are the real checks and balances when it comes to the federal budget process as we head into a very busy year for fiscal policy and, of course, a new administration.

When he impounded funds, there were several court challenges that went even all the way up to the Supreme Court. And the courts were repeatedly upholding the fact that the president did not have the authority to unilaterally make decisions about spending money.

When he impounded funds, there were several court challenges that went even all the way up to the Supreme Court. And the courts were repeatedly upholding the fact that the president did not have the authority to unilaterally make decisions about spending money.

Yeah, so they cannot do it alone. The president must, they must go through the process and work with Congress.

Yeah, so they cannot do it alone. The president must, they must go through the process and work with Congress.

The president can choose to defer temporary delay certain spending if they have the explicit intent that they are going to spend all of that funding within the fiscal year.

The president can choose to defer temporary delay certain spending if they have the explicit intent that they are going to spend all of that funding within the fiscal year.

If Congress chooses to do nothing or does not approve that package as a whole or in part, that funding must then be released to federal agencies and spent. So Congress decides still. Congress decides, yes. And throughout this entire time, the Government Accountability Office is serving as the external watchdog to make sure that this is happening.

If Congress chooses to do nothing or does not approve that package as a whole or in part, that funding must then be released to federal agencies and spent. So Congress decides still. Congress decides, yes. And throughout this entire time, the Government Accountability Office is serving as the external watchdog to make sure that this is happening.

George H.W. Bush utilized this authority. President Clinton, President Reagan did, too. So there really is precedent.

George H.W. Bush utilized this authority. President Clinton, President Reagan did, too. So there really is precedent.

The premise of this is that the United States is the largest supplier of open data.

The premise of this is that the United States is the largest supplier of open data.

Before that time, there was really no single way to track government spending across agencies. And it made it really difficult to use data to inform evidence-based policy decisions.

Before that time, there was really no single way to track government spending across agencies. And it made it really difficult to use data to inform evidence-based policy decisions.

We're really asking the government to open its checkbook every day and to show us what's coming in and what's coming out. That's extraordinary access the public has. And I think it demonstrates the values that our government does place on transparency and communication.

We're really asking the government to open its checkbook every day and to show us what's coming in and what's coming out. That's extraordinary access the public has. And I think it demonstrates the values that our government does place on transparency and communication.

This is Planet Money from NPR.

Well, the distinction with Nixon is also the frequency and the scope at which he impounded funds. I mean, in 1973, he impounded nearly one third of all discretionary spending.

And really refresher of, you know, what are the real checks and balances when it comes to the federal budget process as we head into a very busy year for fiscal policy and, of course, a new administration.

When he impounded funds, there were several court challenges that went even all the way up to the Supreme Court. And the courts were repeatedly upholding the fact that the president did not have the authority to unilaterally make decisions about spending money.

Yeah, so they cannot do it alone. The president must, they must go through the process and work with Congress.

The president can choose to defer temporary delay certain spending if they have the explicit intent that they are going to spend all of that funding within the fiscal year.

If Congress chooses to do nothing or does not approve that package as a whole or in part, that funding must then be released to federal agencies and spent. So Congress decides still. Congress decides, yes. And throughout this entire time, the Government Accountability Office is serving as the external watchdog to make sure that this is happening.

George H.W. Bush utilized this authority. President Clinton, President Reagan did, too. So there really is precedent.

The premise of this is that the United States is the largest supplier of open data.

Before that time, there was really no single way to track government spending across agencies. And it made it really difficult to use data to inform evidence-based policy decisions.

We're really asking the government to open its checkbook every day and to show us what's coming in and what's coming out. That's extraordinary access the public has. And I think it demonstrates the values that our government does place on transparency and communication.