The White House’s Office of Management and Budget advised the Department of Transportation to dismiss the Government Accountability Office’s judgment that the previous administration violated the law by halting electric vehicle funding.
Mark Paoletta, OMB’s general counsel, criticized the GAO’s ruling as ‘incorrect and legally indefensible’ in a letter to DOT.
Background of the Dispute
The GAO’s investigation revealed that DOT had contravened the law by withholding funds allocated by Congress for the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program, established under the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law.
Paoletta argued that DOT’s handling of obligations for the NEVI program adhered to the program’s legislative framework and mirrored past practices for other highway formula programs. He maintained that DOT’s actions did not breach the Impoundment Control Act and justified the temporary suspension of new obligations pending revised guidance.
Response to GAO’s Findings
In response to the GAO’s report, Paoletta emphasized that DOT was not required to revise its obligations for the NEVI program or adjust its practices based on the GAO’s assertions.
The GAO contended that the White House should seek congressional approval to modify existing funding directives and criticized DOT’s interpretation of fund allocation under the program.
Paoletta labeled the GAO’s report as ‘part of a troubling trend of partisan viewpoints’ and urged executive agencies not to comply with GAO’s directives that contradict the administration’s agenda.
Agency Responses
Sarah Kaczmarek from GAO reaffirmed the agency’s stance, asserting the non-partisan nature of their analysis and the importance of upholding their conclusions on appropriations law and fund impoundment.
DOT’s spokesperson, Nathaniel Sizemore, rebutted the GAO’s findings, highlighting discrepancies in the understanding of Congress’s intent and the structure of the NEVI program.
The ongoing discourse between the White House, GAO, and DOT underscores the complexity of federal funding oversight and program implementation.
Stay informed as this situation unfolds and the implications it may have on future funding decisions and regulatory actions.
