July 7, 2025–Due Process Institute and a host of organizations from across the ideological spectrum wrote to the Legislative Branch Subcommittee to share deep concerns regarding the drastic reductions in certain accounts proposed by the House Appropriations Committee. If enacted, these cuts will significantly reduce Congress’s capacity to carry out its constitutional responsibility to ensure taxpayer funds are used efficiently and to prevent waste, fraud and abuse.
Specifically, the bill reported by the House Appropriations Committee on June 26, 2025, would decrease funding of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) by $396.5 million, or nearly 49 percent. It also would hamstring the GAO from ensuring funds are spent as Congress intends by prohibiting enforcement of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act. In addition, it reduces funding of the Library of Congress by $84.6 million, or 10 percent, adversely affecting the ability of the Library to meet its mission. Since 2002, GAO’s work has achieved $1.5 trillion in financial benefits. 6 Cutting GAO will result in tens of billions of federal tax dollars misspent. Furthermore, the vast majority of congressional committees will be largely, if not entirely, unable to request support from GAO for their investigations.
The reduction of authorities for GAO and the funding cuts for GAO and the Library are unwarranted and unwise. If anything, Congress should consider opportunities to bolster GAO’s return on investment. Funding for the Legislative Branch has lagged significantly behind the growth of non-defense discretionary spending, at roughly half the growth rate over the last three decades. Moreover, much of the Legislative Branch was funded at essentially flat levels in FY 2025 relative to FY 2024—levels that have not kept pace with inflation, let alone with the need.
A strong and effective Congress relies on robust policymaking capacity, adequate staff support, and institutional resources that allow it to meet its constitutional obligations to legislate, conduct oversight, and serve the American people. These capacities already are severely strained and cannot withstand further cuts.