GOP Congress Talks (Another) Hegseth Betrayal, But He’s Not Their Problem

Republican Congress Critters are expressing ‘Shock! Shock I say!’ that once again Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has broken his word to them. Really? He got enough support to (barely) get confirmed by them, because they knew from the start he was in way over his head. That he’d be more of a figurehead at the Pentagon. Still, given all that’s come out in such a short time they assumed Trump would have fired him by now. However Petey has his hole-card which is giving in to whatever Trump and the folks across the river in the WH want. If that means taking a chain saw to the DOD Budget then Hegseth will meekly give in. Lawmakers to whom he made promises of fighting to protect and even expand military spending shouldn’t be surprised.

However, Hegseth makes an easy target for them. Much better than taking on Trump himself by forcefully attacking the guy who is actually coming for their cherished programs that provide so many jobs in their states and districts. We, and many who supported (or at least voted for) his appointment knew he was nothing more than one of Trump’s ‘Central Casting’ types who would look the part on TV. At least if he kept his mouth shut and left the actual structure of DOD alone so it could continue to function. Now, for me at least the WH goal from the start was to give Trump power he could wield at will without the fights he went through before. Specifically something known as “Impoundment.” I’ll get to that.

First let’s look at the broader picture briefly described in this article from Raw Story. It’s a little confusing to me because it starts out like one would expect from its headline. That Senior Republicans are “shocked and dismayed” about Hegesth failing to come through on promises he made to them.  However it spends more time talking about someone else, someone they are pointing the finger at as the source of what ails them. Admittedly I’m reading between the lines but it sure seems to me like, as I indicated earlier they are trying to pin blame on Hegseth while at the same time telling journalists who’s really giving them heartburn. It seems the attempt at a smokescreen has failed and White House OMB Director Russell Vought is who they are upset with:

According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, fingers are being pointed at Russ Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, who pulled the rug out from his fellow Donald Trump appointee and who is also facing a growing rebellion among Republican Party lawmakers.

As the Journal’s Ken Thomas, Scott Patterson and Lindsay Wise are reporting, national security-oriented Republicans are not happy with Vought after believing Hegseth’s assurances that the budget would fall in line with what they wanted to see.

Raw Story has a link to the WSJ article but it’s hidden behind a paywall. Fortunately they’ve provided what seems to me to be the relevant details.  It seems Vought is insisting increases in military spending only be allowed via the budget reconciliation process instead of through the budget process. That takes influence away from Hegseth and senior Republicans and their ire at Hegseth is I gather that he rolled over so easily. Republican Senator Kevin Cramer of North Dakota pretty clearly defines what’s on their mind saying “Russ has a lot of sway as the OMB director. He’s got a very sharp pencil.”  I’d imagine Rand Paul and maybe one or two others are thrilled but most GOPers on the Hill not so much.  But it brings us to what I think is the heart of the matter:

According to the Journal, Vought’s belief that the president can “impound” funds he doesn’t want to spend could lead to increased public battles with lawmakers, with the report noting, it “could set off a fight between lawmakers and the White House on who controls the nation’s purse strings. A senior OMB official said during a recent call with reporters that impoundment hasn’t been taken ‘off the table.'”

Impoundment. It’s basically a President, in this case Trump taking away Congress’ “power of the purse.” The Congress assigns the legislative branch the power to determine federal spending, as in what agency or program gets how much money. They pass the bills (laws) appropriating money. A President can veto said legislation but if Congress overrides him it’s by god the law. So, whether the President signs the legislation or has his veto overridden it’s still the law. And it’s the job, set forth in the Constitution for the President to see that the LAWS are faithfully executed.

There is no “line item veto” in the federal government and the Constitution doesn’t hint at there being an acceptable workaround. Impoundment of funds is effectively saying ‘I don’t care what Congress said, I don’t want that money spent on what they said to spend it on.’ Worse is taking money approved for one purpose and spending it on some other Presidential priority without getting Congress’ approval. I’ll give you practical examples of Trump having done both.

Remember back in his first term when he tried to extort Zelensky? Trump refused to release weapons and aid already approved and paid for by Congress. There was a helluva fight before he finally gave in. The same issue came up with his stupid-a$$ border wall. Taking money from the military budget allocated for say base housing construction and spending it on the freaking wall!  Some in Congress were actually ok with that one but still noses were out of joint that it hadn’t been ‘properly’ done.

I see this as a HUGE power grab.  Conservatives have long fought for what they call “The Unitary Executive Theory” (but only if a Republican is in the WH of course!) that effectively gives the President unfettered power.  Including power to decide Congress was wrong on something both currently and in the past and do what he wants.  Giving himself sole power to say how money is spent gives Trump all the leverage he needs. Sound like anyone we know? IMPOUNDMENT is the name of the game here. Vought is out to steamroll Congress into allowing it. That would mean Trump would have final say on all federal spending.

I imagine that outrages you as much as it does me.  I think it should be a much bigger news story. Vought is trying to engineer complete Trump control of federal expenditures. To give Trump power to withhold funds from any agency, program or even branch of government! Who actually pays federal employees, or retirees, or funds the upkeep and maintenance of the U.S. Capitol and the Supreme Court building. Or military bases. If Congress allocates the money, but Trump orders a compliant Treasury Secretary not to release it then what? Or worse doesn’t stop with “don’t pay for THAT” and instead says “use the money for THIS instead.”

I don’t think I’m being alarmist in suggesting that’s exactly what Trump wants.  I also think it’s finally dawning on Republicans in Congress the Tea Party cum MAGA monster that Trump swallowed whole has mutated out of their control. They were so caught up in winning each and every election that they put up with Trump. They deluded themselves by rationalizing they’d deal with any major problem later. Well, it’s “later” and the problem is worse than their wildest fears. Now they are trying to publicly control the situation by being all aghast about Hegesth failing to stand up to Trump on that huge DOD budget.  They acknowledge the real problem but Hegseth makes a convenient whipping boy so they can deflect blame for what THEY have enabled!

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