Moving forward toward tinpot dictatorship

Under a recent change made by the Office of Management and Budget, senior political appointees must now give their signature on any actions to disburse, limit or halt the flow of congressionally appropriated funds. High-ranking career officials have traditionally held that authority, which is known as apportionment and which the administration has used to control everything from the release of foreign aid to the distribution of federal disaster relief.

[...]

The move was confirmed Wednesday by a senior administration official, who said the change has been in the works for more than a year and that high-ranking career employees won’t be cut out of the review process when it comes how OMB handles billions of dollars every year.

The official also argued that the shift will ensure “good government accountability,” “streamline operations” and allow decisions about the flow of appropriated funds to be handled by the most senior person possible. The political appointee in charge can also delegate down to a senior career official, if needed, the official said.

  Politico

If there still IS a career official, you mean.

“This is a deliberate and disturbing step by the Trump Administration to consolidate power among political cronies, undermine Congress, and silence anyone who might stand in their way,” said House Budget Chair John Yarmuth (D-Ky.), who has already introduced a bill that would require OMB to make apportionments public, while publishing who is in charge of the decisions.

[...]

In a letter to OMB Director Russ Vought earlier this month, Yarmuth, House Appropriations Chair Nita Lowey and Oversight Chair Carolyn Maloney (both D-N.Y.) demanded a list of all potential funds that are subject to the apportionment process by Aug. 18. OMB has yet to produce that list, although the agency produced a similar list last year.

They thrill on giving the finger to Congress.

November 3 is do or die, people.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.