MENG CALLS OUT TRUMP ADMIN’S LACK OF TRANSPARENCY ON SPENDING, DEMANDS AGENCIES FOLLOW LAW

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY-06), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies of the House Appropriations Committee sent letters to the leaders of the Department of Commerce, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and National Science Foundation, calling out the administration's unacceptable failure to submit detailed spend plans for each agency to the Appropriations Committees, as required by law.

Federal agencies are legally required to provide more granular details about how they are spending taxpayer dollars each fiscal year. These spend plans are critical to determine if Agency spending aligns with the law. However, as Meng writes, these agencies have failed to submit adequate and legally compliant spend plans to Congress, nearly four months following the enactment of the Appropriations Act.

In addition, in the case of NASA, Meng pointed out that the "failure…to comply with the law raises concerns about [NASA's] intentions with respect to certain missions-particularly those in the Science Mission Directorate…" and that "[t]he absence of a spend plan also appears to be an attempt to avoid the question of whether NASA may seek large-scale reductions in force, beyond the multiple early retirement options provided to employees, as proposed in the [fiscal year 2026] budget request." Meng further noted that at a NASA employee "town hall" meeting last week, the Acting NASA Administrator's chief of staff was quoted as saying "If we were to wait for all of the congressional process to unfold and get to final resolution to make any movements or do anything, it would probably be considered irresponsible." As Meng emphasized in her letter, "Such a statement is itself irresponsible, and should be clarified immediately."

The full letters are available HEREand below:

July 9, 2025

The Honorable Howard Lutnick

Secretary of Commerce

1401 Constitution Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20230

Dear Mr. Secretary:

I am writing to you regarding a significant matter of Government transparency and a related issue of legal compliance. Section 1113 of the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (Public Law 119-4) requires the Commerce Department to submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate a spending, expenditure, or operating plan for fiscal year 2025: (1) at the program, project, or activity level, or (2) as applicable, at any greater level of detail required for funds covered by such a plan in the Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations Act, in the joint explanatory statement accompanying such Act, or in committee report language incorporated by reference in such joint explanatory statement. Such a plan was required to be submitted not later than 45 days after the date of the enactment of Public Law 119-4 (i.e., by April 29, 2025).

On May 22, 2025, the Commerce Department sent the Appropriations Committees an operating plan. However, this plan merely repeated the appropriations account levels enacted by Congress, and did not provide the greater levels of detail as required by Section 1113 of Public Law 119-4. Therefore, this plan is not compliant with the law.

Nearly four months have now passed since enactment of the Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2025. This is unacceptable. The Department must follow the law and provide its fiscal year 2025 operating plan. I expect you to immediately submit to the Appropriations Committees all of the legally required details regarding the Department's uses of fiscal year 2025 funding.

Thank you for your urgent attention to this important matter. If you are unwilling to provide the plan, please contact me personally and directly immediately. I look forward to receiving the plan.

Sincerely,

Grace Meng
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice,
Science, and Related Agencies

July 9, 2025

The Honorable Sean Duffy

Acting Administrator

NASA

300 Hidden Figures Way, SW

Washington, DC 20546

Dear Acting Administrator Duffy:

Congratulations on your appointment^[1]. As I have previously noted for your predecessor NASA faces a significant matter of Government transparency and a related issue of legal compliance. Section 1113 of the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (Public Law 119-4) requires NASA to submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate a spending, expenditure, or operating plan for fiscal year 2025: (1) at the program, project, or activity level, or (2) as applicable, at any greater level of detail required for funds covered by such a plan in the fiscal year 2024 Appropriations Act, in the joint explanatory statement accompanying such Act, or in committee report language incorporated by reference in such joint explanatory statement. Such plan was required to be submitted not later than 45 days after the date of the enactment of Public Law 119-4 (i.e., by April 29, 2025).

Although NASA sent the Appropriations Committees a plan that repeated the appropriations account levels enacted by Congress, it did not provide the greater levels of detail as required by Section 1113 of Public Law 119-4. Therefore, this plan is not compliant with the law.

Nearly four months have now passed since enactment of the Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2025. NASA's failure thus far to comply with the law raises concerns about its intentions with respect to certain missions - particularly those in the Science Mission Directorate for which the President's fiscal year 2026 budget proposal requests cancelation. The absence of a spend plan also appears to be an attempt to avoid the question of whether NASA may seek large-scale reductions in force, beyond the multiple early retirement options provided to employees, as proposed in the budget request.

As you well know, unless and until Congress enacts legislation determining NASA's level of appropriated funds, the agency is not to take any action to impound or defer appropriated funds unless Congress rescinds them by legislation, nor should NASA undertake any transfer, reprogramming, or reorganization actions outside of the procedures outlined in the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 and continued by Public Law 119-4.^[2]

Ordinarily, this reminder would go without saying. However, at an employee "town hall" meeting last week, NASA's chief of staff was quoted as saying "If we were to wait for all of the congressional process to unfold and get to final resolution to make any movements or do anything, it would probably be considered irresponsible."^[3]Such a statement is itself irresponsible, and should be clarified immediately.

As you are expected to be the Acting Administrator through at least the end of the fiscal year and well into fiscal year 2026, it is incumbent on you to be forthcoming with Congress about your plans for NASA's use of taxpayer funds, its workforce, and its organization. It is imperative that you comply with the law by producing a detailed spending plan and briefing the Subcommittee prior to proposing any reorganization of NASA. If you are unwilling to do so, please contact me personally and directly immediately. I look forward to receiving the plan.

Sincerely,

Grace Meng
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice,
Science, and Related Agencies

July 9, 2025

Brian Stone

Chief of Staff

Performing the Duties of the NSF Director

National Science Foundation

2415 Eisenhower Avenue

Alexandria, VA 22314

Dear Mr. Stone:

I am writing to you regarding a significant matter of Government transparency and a related issue of legal compliance. Section 1113 of the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (Public Law 119-4) requires the National Science Foundation (NSF) to submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate a spending, expenditure, or operating plan for fiscal year 2025: (1) at the program, project, or activity level, or (2) as applicable, at any greater level of detail required for funds covered by such a plan in the fiscal year 2024 Appropriations Act, in the joint explanatory statement accompanying such Act, or in committee report language incorporated by reference in such joint explanatory statement. Such a plan was required to be submitted not later than 45 days after the date of the enactment of Public Law 119-4 (i.e., by April 29, 2025).

On April 30, 2025, the National Science Foundation sent the Appropriations Committees a proposed Current Plan for fiscal year 2025. However, this plan merely repeated the appropriations account levels enacted by Congress, and did not provide the greater levels of detail as required by Section 1113 of Public Law 119-4. Therefore, this plan is not compliant with the law.

Nearly four months have now passed since enactment of the Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2025. This is unacceptable. The agency must follow the law and provide its fiscal year 2025 operating plan. I expect you to immediately submit to the Appropriations Committees all of the legally required details regarding the NSF's uses of fiscal year 2025 funding.

Thank you for your urgent attention to this important matter. If you are unwilling to provide the plan, please contact me personally and directly immediately. I look forward to receiving the plan.

Sincerely,

Grace Meng
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice,
Science, and Related Agencies