Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution contains a single, powerful restriction on executive power: "No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law." This gives Congress absolute control over federal spending. Presidents cannot fund programs, agencies, or wars without congressional authorization in the form of appropriations bills.
Congress typically passes 12 appropriations bills each fiscal year, covering defense, agriculture, interior, commerce, labor, energy, etc. These bills specify how much money each agency receives and often include restrictions on how agencies can spend it. Congress can refuse to appropriate money for policies it opposes, withhold funding as leverage, or condition funding on specific outcomes. When Congress cannot agree on appropriations, the government shuts down and federal workers go unpaid.
The appropriations power makes Congress the ultimate authority over federal operations. But this power has become a hostage-taking tool. Minority parties leverage the threat of shutdown to extract unrelated concessions, turning routine spending bills into high-stakes partisan standoffs. This dynamic has destabilized budget processes and pushed the government toward recurring shutdowns.
This power gives Congress control over what the federal government actually does. Presidents may want to fund a program or military action, but without congressional appropriations, the money never flows. This makes Congress the keeper of federal priorities and forces presidents to negotiate with legislators.
People sometimes confuse appropriations with authorization. Authorization bills create programs or permit agencies to act; appropriations bills provide the actual money. You can authorize a program but refuse to appropriate funds for it, effectively killing it without repealing the law.
This power gives Congress control over what the federal government actually does. Presidents may want to fund a program or military action, but without congressional appropriations, the money never flows. This makes Congress the keeper of federal priorities and forces presidents to negotiate with legislators.
People sometimes confuse appropriations with authorization. Authorization bills create programs or permit agencies to act; appropriations bills provide the actual money. You can authorize a program but refuse to appropriate funds for it, effectively killing it without repealing the law.