WASHINGTON, DC – Noting that federal tax dollars belong to the American people – not the President or federal agencies – U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today hailed a federal court ruling that the Trump Administration violated the law by taking down a public disclosure website that shows how taxpayer dollars are apportioned to federal agencies and ordered its reinstatement.

 

The Constitution clearly mandates that Congress, not the executive branch, has the ‘power of the purse.’ The President signs funding bills and is statutorily responsible for apportioning funds for executive branch agencies to spend in accordance with Congress’s directive under the law. Historically, the responsibility for apportioning funds has been delegated to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) by executive order.

 

In an effort to boost government transparency and accountability and ensure the American people know where their tax dollars are going, Senator Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee, helped pass a bipartisan provision in the Fiscal Year 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 117-103), made permanent in 2023, requiring OMB to publicly disclose how federal funding is disbursed to federal agencies and make the information available on a publicly accessible website. Previously, OMB’s apportionment decisions were rarely made public. The nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommended making this information publicly available in 2021.

 

The apportionment database was launched in the summer of 2022. But in March of 2025, the Trump Administration took down the website and dubiously attempted to justify its removal by claiming that apportionments contain deliberative and predecisional information and citing national security risks. However, apportionments are issued only after deliberation and are legally binding decisions that govern agency expenditures. Since March 24, 2025, the public website has been down, and OMB Director Russell Vought said OMB will no longer make apportionments available.

 

“Americans deserve to know how their government is using their hard-earned resources, that the President is spending their tax dollars in accordance with the law, and is doing so in an effective and responsible manner. This website was like a dashboard to oversee and review executive branch stewardship of U.S. taxpayer funds. The Trump Administration sought to unlawfully conceal this information. Today’s ruling very clearly orders the Trump Administration to stop hiding data from the American people and reinstate this public website. It’s a positive step for taxpayers and the Trump Administration must comply with the law,” said Reed.

 

The judge’s ruling stated: “There is nothing unconstitutional about Congress requiring the Executive Branch to inform the public of how it is apportioning the public’s money. Defendants are therefore required to stop violating the law!"

 

The judge ordered the Trump Administration to reinstate the database. But at the Justice Department’s request, the judge paused the order until Thursday morning, so the Administration can decide if it will seek emergency relief from an appeals court.

 

Bipartisan members of Congress have publicly declared the Trump Administration is required by law to operate the public website and ensure accountability for stewardship of taxpayer funds.