Government Accountability Office: Trump administration broke law by withholding security aid to Ukraine

The Government Accountability Office says the Trump administration broke the law when it withheld US security aid to Ukraine last year that had been appropriated by Congress.

"Faithful execution of the law does not permit the President to substitute his own policy priorities for those that Congress has enacted into law. Office of Management and Budget [of the White House] withheld funds for a policy reason, which is not permitted under the Impoundment Control Act. The withholding was not a programmatic delay. Therefore, we conclude that OMB violated the ICA," the Government Accountability Office says, CNN reports.

OMB spokeswoman Rachel Semmel said the budget office disagrees with the GAO's decision.

As noted, the White House budget office earlier told the GAO that the money was withheld because they were reviewing the programs, meaning the delay wasn't subject to the Impoundment Control Act. But the GAO rejected that argument.

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