Congress & Federal Budget
GAO Challenges Funding Hold as the Fiscal Year Ends
The congressional watchdog says proposed spending cancellations cannot keep expiring appropriations unavailable beyond the fiscal-year deadline.
A deadline for federal spending
The Government Accountability Office concluded September 29 that the administration cannot withhold appropriations beyond their expiration merely because proposed cancellations remain under congressional consideration. Its review covers the president’s September 25 special message proposing rescissions in 11 accounts.
Congress has not finished its review
GAO’s preliminary assessment found that all 11 accounts carry fund symbols indicating expiration at the end of fiscal year 2026. The congressional consideration period ends no earlier than November 9, after that deadline. GAO says the funds must remain available unless Congress completes action rescinding them.
What the finding means
This is GAO’s legal conclusion about spending authority, not a court judgment or confirmation that agencies have released the money. The watchdog explicitly separates its finding from the merits of the affected programs. The unresolved question is how the administration and Congress respond before the appropriations expire.