The President’s Constitutional Power of Impoundment
Since the Founding, it has been understood that Article II vests the President with authority to decline to spend the full amount of an appropriated fund.
The History of Impoundments Before the Impoundment Control Act of 1974
Defenders of the Impoundment Control Act misunderstand the power of the purse, overread Supreme Court precedent, and fail to address unbroken Executive impoundment practice and congressional acquiescence.