Portland Maine News

U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Patty Murray have raised concerns over the Administration's treatment of emergency spending in the 2025 Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act. As the Chair and Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, they sent a letter to Russ Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), questioning the Administration’s decision to agree with only a part of the emergency-designated funding.

The Senators emphasized the necessity of adhering to the law in its written form: “Regardless of our views on the Fiscal Responsibility Act and accompanying implementation agreement, it is incumbent on all of us to follow the law as written—not as we would like it to be.”

They pointed out that the Administration did not seek an anomaly to exclude this funding or related requirements that were part of the previous two continuing resolutions for the fiscal year 2025.

Expressing their concerns, the Senators stated, “We are concerned that sudden changes to OMB’s interpretation of long-standing statutory provisions could be disruptive to the appropriations process and make it more difficult for the Appropriations Committee to work in a collaborative fashion with the Administration to advance priorities on behalf of the American people.”

The letter further highlighted the issues arising when the Appropriations Committee learns of such developments through the media instead of official channels, “Collaboration will become even more challenging when the Committee is first informed of such developments through the press, rather than notified through official channels, as was the case here.”

The complete letter is available for public viewing.