Judge Slams Trump-Era OMB for Illegally Hiding Federal Spending Data

 

Federal Judge Rules Trump Administration Broke Law by Shutting Down Public Spending Website

In a major legal setback for former President Donald Trump, a federal judge has ruled that his administration unlawfully removed a public website designed to show how federal funds are allocated across government agencies. The decision, handed down by U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan, orders that the website be immediately reinstated.

Judge Sullivan made it clear that the Executive Branch is not above the law when it comes to public transparency. “There is nothing unconstitutional about Congress requiring the Executive Branch to inform the public of how it is apportioning the public’s money,” Sullivan wrote. “Defendants are therefore required to stop violating the law.”

The now-removed online database, which was managed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), had served as a public resource to track federal apportionment decisions. However, earlier this year, the Trump-era OMB shut down the site, citing national security concerns—a rationale the court found legally insufficient.

According to federal law, the OMB is required to operate and maintain the apportionment database “for fiscal year 2023 and each fiscal year thereafter.” The court found that terminating the site violated both this statute and the transparency obligations Congress had put in place.

The lawsuit was brought by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) and Protect Democracy, two organizations that rely on the data to ensure government accountability. “When Defendants removed the Public Apportionments Database, they deprived CREW and Protect Democracy of information to which they are statutorily entitled,” Judge Sullivan noted.

Cerin Lindgrensavage, counsel at Protect Democracy, emphasized the broader implications of the ruling: “Today’s decision makes clear that the executive branch cannot simply ignore appropriations laws they disagree with on policy grounds, no matter what President Trump or OMB Director Russell Vought thinks.”

The court has given the Justice Department until Thursday morning to respond, should they choose to appeal the decision.

This ruling highlights the ongoing legal efforts to uphold congressional oversight and government transparency, especially in areas where the public’s right to information intersects with federal budget policy.