Senior Director of Federal Budget Policy for the Center for American Progress doing budget, tax, and econ. Formerly: Biden OMB, Biden Transition Team, Senate Budget Committee (Murray and Sanders). CBO and OMB’s biggest fan! Personal account.
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Far less important, but in a petty swipe at CBO, OMB removed “CBO's mission is to provide the Congress with the objective, timely, non partisan analyses needed for economic and budget decisions and with the information and estimates required for the congressional budget process.”
Yes, and the broad deferral authority he’s claiming is a Line Item Deferral, unconstitutional for same reason. bsky.app/profile/bbko...
🥹 the short version is that OMB has changed its guidance to agencies to say “hell yeah we’re gonna do a bunch of illegal impoundment.” They’ve ofc been impounding all along, so in a sense this doesn’t change anything. But it’s more evidence they are quintupling down rather than easing up at all.
200 retweets about circular a fucking 11 lmao truly it is a sign of how bad things are that we are talking about circular a-11
Here’s a link to the old Circular A-11: www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u... Here’s a link to the new Circular A-11: www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
Thread: this is Russ Vought giving himself permission to ignore Congress and the constitution
Russ Vought has been very clear from the beginning that he thinks the Trump admin can (illegally) impound anything they want. They have been impounding since day one. These changes to Circular A-11 are just motivated reasoning to get to the answer they want.
GAO and normal humans understand that things outside of an agency's control can cause delays on budget execution. GAO holds up Trump admin's NIH & Head Start deferrals as examples of stuff that obviously isn't allowed. You may not defer for policy reasons. The admin's just claiming unlimited power.
This'd be incredibly broad power to pause anything they want for as long as they want. Just say you want to change the scope or realign with admin policy, and now you can pause forever.
Same as with the definition of impoundment, they're doing the meme.
Section 1013 of the ICA is crystal clear that, if you want to defer budget authority, you need to go through the procedure laid out in Section 1013. So what's OMB's approach? Just (incorrectly) assert that all sorts of deferrals aren't actually deferrals.
![PROPOSED DEFERRALS OF BUDGET AUTHORITY SEC. 1013. [2 U.S.C. 684] (a) TRANSMITTAL OF SPECIAL MESSAGE.—Whenever the President, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the head of any department or agency of the United States, or any officer or employee of the United States proposes to defer any budget authority provided for a specific purpose or project, the President shall transmit to the House of Representatives and the Senate a special message specifying— (1) the amount of the budget authority proposed to be deferred; (2) any account, department, or establishment of the Government to which such budget authority is available for obligation, and the specific project or governmental functions involved; (3) the period of time during which the budget authority is proposed to be deferred; (4) the reasons for the proposed deferral, including any legal authority invoked to justify the proposed deferral; (5) to the maximum extent practicable, the estimated fiscal, economic, and budgetary effect of the proposed deferral; and (6) all facts, circumstances, and considerations relating to or bearing upon the proposed deferral and the decision to effect the proposed deferral, including an analysis of such facts, circumstances, and considerations in terms of their application to any legal authority, including specific elements of legal authority, invoked to justify such proposed deferral, and to the maximum extent practicable, the estimated effect of the proposed deferral upon the objects, purposes, and programs for which the budget authority is provided.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:drfb2pdjlnsqkfgsoellcahm/bafkreiccasi3vsp4k2c7ao5egwffel2c5mkbjv3eumiwuqnbopzcusphsq@jpeg "Click to view full size")
And finally, they also changed 112.2 to assert broad deferral authority. On the left again is the old 112.2 language. On the right is the updated relevant language.
But no matter what they say, pocket rescissions are illegal - and the exact part of the law that they claim *grants* the power actually directly prohibits it instead. However, even if the law did grant them the power, it would be unconstitutional under the LIVA decision. bsky.app/profile/bbko...
Next, they have changed 112.2 to claim the power to do pocket rescissions. On the left is the old section 112.2. On the right is the relevant part of the updated section 112.2.
I suppose we shouldn't be surprised given that OMB sent a letter to GAO saying it would limit cooperation with GAO's oversight into its illegal impoundments. admin.govexec.com/media/genera...
And here's what it says now. Strong message that, even when GAO finds the government to have illegally impounded - as it has done many times in the Trump administration - agencies should ignore it and just continue impounding anyway.
GAO is tasked in the Impoundment Control Act itself with adjudicating what constitutes an impoundment. Here's what Circular A-11 used to say about GAO
Literally pulling the "can't x if you don't y" meme.
What about the new Circular A-11? They just deleted the entire definition.
Here's the White House's definition of impoundment used in the July 2024 Circular A-11. Simple and straightforward. "Impoundment means any Executive Branch action or inaction that temporarily or permanently withholds, delays, or precludes the obligation or expenditure of budgetary resources."
Enormous impoundment-related changes in Trump/Vought's Circular A-11 update from Friday, which is OMB's guidance to agencies They: -removed the definition of impoundment -said GAO's impoundment determinations don't matter -claimed pocket rescission authority -claimed profound deferral authority 🧵
US Appeals Court rejects Trump Administration's IEEPA tariffs. The IEEPA tariffs are about 70 percent of them, by revenue. Link to full details here: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
What the heck is a "pocket rescission"? Is it legal? @bbkogan.bsky.social has the answers here, explaining this illegal, backdoor method by which Trump is slashing funding for government programs. www.americanprogress.org/article/what...
You gotta give Josh a follow if you care about the budget. I first met Josh almost 11 years ago when we were working for Bernie on the Senate Budget Committee.
www.politico.com/news/2025/08...
These funds were passed by Congress — and many were signed into law by President Trump himself. And the official White House position is they’re going to ignore the law and “it doesn’t matter” if Congress says no. A profound challenge to the self-respect of Congressional Republicans.
This quote from the Trump admin about its pocket rescissions couldn’t be more brazen. Pocket rescissions are an illegal way to ignore the will of Congress — which they feel comfortable saying out loud directly to the press.
IMO, this is probably the most important thing to keep in mind. The Trump administration is trying to keep the focus exclusively on foreign aid funding, since it’s the least popular, LOUDLY illegally impounding it via pocket rescissions, while they very quietly continue to impound cancer research.
A surprisingly clear statement from Susan Collins, the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, that the Trump administrations pocket rescission is illegal.
A pocket rescission is an illegal impoundment, not a rescission. It’s a method of not spending money they are required to spend. The Trump admin is choosing to focus on the foreign aid funding, loudly impounding it. But it’s still quietly illegally impounding other things, like cancer research.
The ICA doesn’t directly grant the power to pause funds for 45 days. That’s an implied power in §1012(b). But §1012(b) is explicit any paused funds not rescinded MUST be made available for obligation — so pocket rescissions are illegal, bcuz the $$ would no longer be available for obligation.
The most ironic part of the pocket rescissions fight is that exact section of the Impoundment Control Act that the Trump administration says *grants* it the power to do pocket rescissions actually makes them illegal.
Around midnight last night, President Trump sent up a “pocket rescissions” request. Pocket rescissions are illegal. Here’s my thread explaining what pocket rescissions are, how they work, and why they’re illegal.
Pocket rescissions are illegal. Picking foreign aid also highlights the intent here is to overrule the will of Congress. Trump already asked Congress to legally get rid of $8 billion in foreign aid funding. Why not also get rid of this $5 billion then? Cause they were worried Congress would say no.
In a functional government, this would be a five alarm fire where Congress calls in Kennedy and asks him what the fuck is going on
Vaccines are truly one of the most incredible things in all of human history. We founds ways to literally defeat communicable deadly diseases at almost no cost and at no harm to ourselves. And grifters are working to undermine that and get people killed.
It just absolutely blows that RFK Jr. looked at this and said, no that’s not bad enough, we can do worse
The new tax components of the "big beautiful bill" are not a boon for the middle class. Exclusively from the new taxes, the median person gets around $400. The poorest Americans are actually made worse off - and that's before you account for the Medicaid and SNAP cuts.
We are really not prepared for how AI videos, which will be significantly higher quality in three years, will wreak havoc on the 2028 election. The random right wing account to Fox pipeline, but with seemingly real footage.
It’s so so so so good
That entire Passiac performance is phenomenal, so I think this is a solid take. It probably has my favorite Rosalita. Not even the best performance, but Bruce and Clarence are like flirting nearly kissing and playing peakaboo with each other during it. The whole 1978 tour was just off the charts.
His early album stuff here is just phenomenal. Incredible performances of Spirit in the Night and Lost in the Flood.
While we’re at it honestly do yourself a favor and listen to the entire Hammersmith Odeon 1975 performance. Also has my favorite version of She’s the One. What’s so neat about the whole performance is Born to Run was so new lots of the crowd was hearing all of the album for the first time.
Man, it really is a crime to not go straight into Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out (Thunder Road was the opener, with an immediate transition to this awesome performance): youtube.com/watch?v=FxCW...
Fifty years of greatness, here’s my favorite rendition of Thunder Road 🫡 youtube.com/watch?v=6O3M...
One of the things seared into my brain from the first term was @ddale8.bsky.social’s piece on “sir” being the strongest indicator that Trump is about to lie
Finally, Trump will be able to secure his Nobel Peace Prize
Great new analysis from Zach. I worked with Zach back in 2014 on the Senate Budget Committee under Patty Murray.
The VP is in Ohio today to say OBBBA is good for families. But we did the math🧮. The Republican budget bill is not remotely pro-family on net. In fact, it will leave future generations dangerously worse off. /3
🚨New Budget Analysis🚨 We @thirdway.bsky.social did the math on the Republican Budget Bill--By 2030 it takes more away from kids than potential benefits. By the end of the budget window its a $42B net drain on kid's and their future. /1
July 14: we are building several multi-gigawatt compute clusters, the first is called Prometheus (cool myth, no lesson there) August 20: AI hiring freeze. www.wsj.com/tech/ai/meta...
5th Cir. holds that the structure of the NLRB violates the separation of powers. Preliminarily enjoins three enforcement actions, including one against SpaceX. www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub...
Tariffs on China were temporarily even higher
From @ernietedeschi.bsky.social on the bad site: average effective tariff rate on video game consoles
Well, it’s very clear why the White House illegally took down their apportionment tracking website lol. As I said at the time, the purpose of getting rid of the public reporting was to make getting away with illegal impoundment easier.
Having now gone through a lot of these, the story is clear: as expected, OMB exerted heavy control over govt spending. This was a Project 2025 idea to have politicals inside the White House control things. Here’s LIHEAP. Basically says “Come to an agreement with the White House — or shut down.”
A little bit came out last night, and a lot more came out this morning — with some nasty footnotes showing heavy bottlenecks at OMB. Some apportionments clearly still missing.
A useful WaPo map of where Trump Storm Troops are actually operating in DC. www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202... If you know DC, what this map tell you is: They're making the gaudy show of strength in areas where it matters least and will do least good. Except for sheer spectacle.
What's so clear here -- and so terrifying -- is that these cops view themselves as Trump's goons and know that Trump will let them get away with anything. www.thehandbasket.co/p/federal-ag...
WASHINGTON (AP) — South Carolina, Ohio also sending National Guard troops to DC in further escalation of federal intervention in Dem city.
Curious whether OMB is illegally modifying any of the apportionments to remove sketchy footnotes that would indicate illegal impoundments.
It seems that, despite putting the website back online, OMB has violated parts of the court order. All the old apportionments are back online, but they’ve only updated the apportionments for DOJ and the VA — but have not updated any of the other agencies, in violation of the order.
It seems that, despite putting the website back online, OMB has violated parts of the court order. All the old apportionments are back online, but they’ve only updated the apportionments for DOJ and the VA — but have not updated any of the other agencies, in violation of the order.
bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/u...
Wow, the apportionments website that had been illegally taken offline by Russ Vought is back online! Huge congratulations to the heroes at @protectdemocracy.org and @citizensforethics.org. apportionment-public.max.gov
What the fuck
Sen. Hagerty on his legal rationale for not counting undocumented immigrants in the census: "There's a constitutional interpretation I think that has been misapplied that goes back to slavery days and what portion of a person is going to be counted."
Check out the alt text, king
Choose your fighter
Congrats!
Absolutely
The much better scenario is higher base pay and no tips.
Many reasons tipping is bad, but a key one is it makes your wage-setting boss someone you’ve never met before and will never see again. This creates awful incentives that lead to bad conditions. Your wages should be set by someone you know and can troubleshoot with and work with.
Seems like a good time to remind folks that sec. 718 of the FY24 FSGG Appropriations Act still applies to FY25 money, and bars the use of funds GOVERNMENT-WIDE “for publicity or propaganda purposes within the United States” unless “authorized by Congress.”
for real
great find from @nbcnews.com www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
incredible
okay so the good news is my perfect angel dog Strider had a blast in the water the other day @darthbluesky.bsky.social
Really thorough and incredible post from Jed on this. Jed shows why he’s so respected in the space.
New from @budgetlab.bsky.social: the combined effect of Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” and his tariffs leave the bottom 90% of America poorer on average, with only the top 10% of America better off.
Obviously, finding standing under pre-ICA was sometimes difficult. But there were many, many, many cases against Nixon where they found standing. Insane to say all that standing is now gone for suits under the ICA — especially when the ICA explicitly says it doesn’t get rid of standing!!!!
Seems impossible to square this ruling with Section 1001(3) of the ICA, which says “Nothing contained in this Act, or in any amendments made by this Act, shall be construed as affecting in any way the claims or defenses of any party to litigation concerning any impoundment.”
Join CAP and local leaders on Tuesday, August 19th for a discussion on how state and local leaders can mitigate the effects of federal cuts to public schools to ensure equal access to a quality education for all students. www.americanprogress.org/events/back-...
incredible find from @besttrousers.bsky.social on the bad site: “there is a judicial ruling that the X-men are nonhumans and should be tariffed at the "toy" rate instead of the "doll" rate.” which,,,, simply could not be more thematically on the nose for the x-men
After a remarkable stretch when wage inequality fell substantially, wage growth at the bottom is now once again falling behind growth at the top. This is bad news for working class Americans. t.co/1hp5EE9up5
🫡
New from @budgetlab.bsky.social: the combined effect of Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” and his tariffs leave the bottom 90% of America poorer on average, with only the top 10% of America better off.
What happens when your incorporate the effect of Trump’s tariffs? Then the bottom 90% of America is poorer, and only the top 10% end up better off, according to @budgetlab.bsky.social.
From @ernietedeschi.bsky.social on the bad site - the effect of tariffs is very clearly showing up in some of the price data by now.
Missed it, very helpful - thank you!
it's so incredible, and like tracks with his other stuff. double-counting housing costs - which is something he did when i testified next to him.
Lovely followers, I need additional eyes on this. If in the wild you happen to come across either of the following, would you please be willing to send it my way? a) Republicans saying Antoni is not good or not qualified b) Analysis of his that is particularly egregious
Because he was gonna be way way way way better than anyone else Trump was ever going to pick. He was just going to care intensely about the integrity of the institution — and would speak up and resign in protest before doing something bad. Lo and behold, Bill publicly denounced the firing of Erika.
If I were ever nominated for something, and dozens of budgeteers including a bunch of liberal ones were all publicly posting about how unqualified I was and how bad my analysis was, I think I would quit on the spot and go become a baker or a firefighter or something.
I don’t think I have ever publicly criticized any Presidential nominee before. But E.J. Antoni is completely unqualified to be BLS Commissioner. He is an extreme partisan and does not have any relevant expertise. He would be a break from decades of nonpartisan technocrats.
When Bill Beach was nominated for BLS commissioner, I recommended a yes vote from Bernie (I was working for him at the Budget Committee). I knew Bill well. I said he’d disagree w/ us on some priors but never on facts, & that he’d quit before doing a data crime. The same cannot be said for Antoni.
Congrats to E.J. Antoni on his nomination to be BLS commissioner. Excited for this level of analysis to finally be brought to BLS.
on the left, clinton's 1993 deficit reduction bill. goated, peak performance. absolutely enormous tax increases on the rich while helping the poor on the right, trump's "big beautiful bill." terrible, poor get poorer while rich get richer, significantly worsens fiscal outlook. garbage-tier bill
In a single act, Trump is undoing significant portions of the health coverage gains of the last 60 years.
