Lubbock Times

House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-TX) and Oversight Task Force Chair Jack Bergman (R-MI) have formally requested the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to provide a comprehensive cost estimate for the 138 executive actions and agency rules issued by the Biden Administration.

In their letter, Arrington and Bergman emphasized the need for transparency regarding the financial impact of these executive actions. They stated, “While the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) already incorporates the fiscal impact of executive actions into its economic projections, it does not provide a separate, clear accounting of these costs to taxpayers.”

Executive orders have been a tool for U.S. Presidents since George Washington's first order in June 1789. According to the Congressional Research Service (CRS), these orders are used to achieve policy goals, manage the executive branch, or influence private citizens' behavior. Although not explicitly defined in the U.S. Constitution, they carry the force of law when issued under appropriate authority.

Both political parties have utilized executive actions in recent years, often resulting in significant taxpayer costs without congressional oversight. The Biden Administration has issued 138 such actions over three years and five months, amounting to over $2 trillion.

The letter highlights that in June 2022, CBO responded to a previous request from House Budget by providing an analysis showing that President Biden’s executive actions had totaled $532 billion at that time.

Arrington and Bergman now seek an updated analysis from CBO detailing all executive actions taken by the Biden Administration and their associated spending. They assert that this information is crucial for restoring fiscal responsibility and ensuring lawmakers and citizens understand how taxpayer dollars are being allocated.