Under the Anti-Deficiency Act, which statement is true?

Under the Anti-Deficiency Act, which statement is true?

• A. It allows agencies to incur new obligations without appropriation.
• B. It mandates that agencies act without regard to congressional intent.
• C. It has no impact on budget execution.
• D. It requires compliance with the intent of Congress.

Answer: (D)

The Anti-Deficiency Act is about keeping government spending within what Congress has appropriated and within the purposes Congress authorized. Agencies cannot incur new obligations or make expenditures unless there is an available appropriation, and they must follow Congress’s intent for how funds are to be used. This is why requiring compliance with the intent of Congress is the accurate statement. The other ideas would violate the Act: spending without an appropriation is prohibited, acting without regard to congressional intent would defeat congressional control, and saying the Act has no impact on budget execution ignores how it constrains when and how funds can be spent.

The Anti-Deficiency Act is about keeping government spending within what Congress has appropriated and within the purposes Congress authorized. Agencies cannot incur new obligations or make expenditures unless there is an available appropriation, and they must follow Congress’s intent for how funds are to be used. This is why requiring compliance with the intent of Congress is the accurate statement.

The other ideas would violate the Act: spending without an appropriation is prohibited, acting without regard to congressional intent would defeat congressional control, and saying the Act has no impact on budget execution ignores how it constrains when and how funds can be spent.