GAO Finds President's Proposed $810 Billion in Funding Rescissions Unlawful

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) concluded that the President's September 25, 2026, special message proposing rescissions of nearly $810 billion in funding from 11 appropriation accounts is unlawful. The GAO stated that the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 does not permit the withholding of funds beyond their expiration date unless Congress completes action on a rescission bill, thereby protecting congressional prerogatives and the constitutional power of the purse.