Trump broke law by freezing library funding: watchdog

A recent report by the Government Accountability Office has found the Trump administration violated federal law by stopping the flow of Congressionally-approved money for libraries, museums and archives.

This is the second time this year that the Trump administration has violated the Impoundment Control Act, which dictates certain circumstances in which a president can withhold Congressional funding. A previous investigation found the Department of Transportation violated the ICA by withholding $5 billion that was meant for electric vehicle charging stations.

The GAO's decision noted that Trump's Executive Order from March 14 that eliminated the Institute of Museum and Library Services was illegal because the funds were "not eligible for withholding under any circumstance" outlined by the ICA.

Washington Sen. Patty Murray, vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, told Politico that Trump may not like that the money was approved, but he has a legal obligation to ensure it is spent.

"[Trump] may not like the fact that Congress has, on a bipartisan basis, invested in helping kids learn at their local library — but that does not change the fact that he himself signed these investments into law, and they need to start flowing immediately," Murray told Politico.