Orgs Oppose Effort to Slash Essential Congressional Resources

June 25, 2025  

Hon. Tom Cole, Chairman Hon. Rosa DeLauro, Ranking Member  House Appropriations Committee House Appropriations Committee  H-307 The Capitol 1036 Longworth HOB  Washington DC 20515 Washington, DC 20515  

Dear Chairman Cole and Ranking Member DeLauro:  

We are writing to express our deep concern about drastic reductions proposed in the  FY26 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill. These cuts will significantly reduce  Congress’s capacity to carry out its constitutional responsibility to ensure taxpayer  funds are used wisely and to prevent waste, fraud and abuse.  

Specifically, the bill reported by the subcommittee would decrease funding of the  Government Accountability Office (GAO) by $396.5 million, or nearly 49 percent. It  would also hamstring the GAO from ensuring funds are spent as Congress intends by  prohibiting enforcement of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act. It  also reduces funding of the Library of Congress by $84.6 million, or 10 percent,  adversely affecting the ability of the Library to support the work of Members of  Congress.  

GAO provides crucial support to Congress by ensuring government transparency,  efficiency, and accountability. The objective, fact-based information it provides through  its investigations and research is critical to helping Congress improve government  operations, save taxpayer money, and make informed choices about policy and  funding. Its reports have identified billions of dollars in potential savings through its  work on various government programs, helped agencies improve their operations,  protected taxpayer dollars, and ensured that public funds are used to achieve their  intended purposes.  

The Congressional Research Service (CRS), which is part of the Library of Congress,  responds to thousands and thousands of congressional requests for information each  year, providing essential support to members, staff and indeed the entire legislative  process. Such significant cuts to the Library of Congress will result in a less informed  and less effective Congress.

We urge you to restore this funding as you mark up this legislation. The legislation as  drafted will result in continued erosion of congressional capacity to legislate wisely and  to oversee the expenditure of taxpayer dollars. Ultimately, it will further erode the  public’s trust in the Legislative Branch and consequently, our democracy’s ability to  function.  

Thank you for your consideration of this essential matter.

Sincerely,

Jim Townsend, Director
Carl Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy

Danielle Brian, Executive Director/President
Project on Government Oversight  

Daniel Schuman, Executive Director
American Governance Institute

Max Stier, President and CEO  
Partnership for Public Service  

Kevin Kosar, Senior Fellow  
American Enterprise Institute  

Nan Swift, Resident Fellow  
Governance Program  
R Street Institute  

John Shaw, Director  
Paul Simon Policy Institute  

Marci Harris, Co-founder and Executive Director
POPVOX Foundation