Fedweek

Image: Melymel2222/Shutterstock.com

Congress has included language in a spending bill designed to block several of the Trump administration’s agency reorganization initiatives, at least until the White House provides fuller justification for its plans.

The restrictive language was put in HR-5895, the first of a series of packages of appropriations bills that Congress is moving just ahead of the end of the current fiscal year. That measure, which among other things provides funding for military construction and water programs, has been sent to President Trump for his expected signature.

The measure builds on restrictions included in current-year funding bills that will expire when those bills expire September 30. After their passage early this year, the administration announced a wide-ranging government reorganization plan, some of which it intends to carry out administratively while other parts would require changes in law. However, specific legislative language has not been sent to Capitol Hill for those falling in the latter category.

The funding bill awaiting Trump’s signature takes a stand against several of the recommendations, primarily to shift Army Corps of Engineers navigation programs to Transportation and certain other responsibilities to Interior. A report on the bill from House-Senate conferees said that consultation with Congress on that idea “was nonexistent” and that carrying out such changes “will require enactment of legislation, which has neither been proposed nor requested to date. Therefore, no funds provided in this Act or any previous Act to any agency shall be used to implement this proposal.”

The bill also bars spending money to reorganize the National Nuclear Security Administration or the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board unless those changes are “specifically authorized in law.” Similar language regarding the Corps of Engineers is in a separate bill covering DoD generally (HR-6157) that is scheduled for final voting next week.