The Government Accountability Office says the Trump administration violated federal laws when it tapped entrance fees to keep the nation's national parks open during the 35-day shutdown earlier this year
The agency must report the violation to Congress, identify the officials responsible for it and explain steps it will take to prevent similar violations. It said any subsequent actions in the future would be "knowing and willful violations," subjecting officials to penalties.Interior did not cooperate with GAO's investigation, according to the report. An Interior spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.
"We take our responsibility to Congress seriously, and will not allow an agency’s lack of cooperation to interfere with Congress’s oversight of executive spending," GAO wrote. "Accordingly, we issue our opinion in this matter notwithstanding Interior’s failure to timely respond to our request for information."
Congressional Democrats, who released the GAO opinion Thursday, said the opinion showed the administration clearly violated the law and pushed for consequences. "The Secretary of Interior seems to think the rule of law doesn’t apply to the Trump administration," Rep. Betty McCollum , chairwoman of the House Appropriations Interior-Environment Subcommittee, said in a statement. “The Administration should now immediately report this violation and take corrective actions as required by law. This should put the administration on notice that their illegal actions will not be tolerated.
Her Senate counterpart, Sen. Tom Udall , said: "Their assurances at the time that their actions were legal have proven false, and there should be consequences for this violation."
Brasil Últimas Notícias, Brasil Manchetes
Similar News:Você também pode ler notícias semelhantes a esta que coletamos de outras fontes de notícias.
Pence’s Office Insists Trump Had Nothing to Do With Stay at Trump Property“At no time did the president direct our office to stay at his Doonbeg resort,” the VP's office insists
Consulte Mais informação »
Trump Sharpie Memes Show the World As Trump Would Prefer ItHere are some of the best Trump Sharpie memes that have emerged in the wake of the president showing reporters an altered map of Hurricane Dorian's path
Consulte Mais informação »
Glare of public outrage budges Trump admin on medical deferralsMahsa Khanbabai, American Immigration Lawyers' New England chapter chair, talks with Rachel Maddow about an apparent gesture by the Trump administration to grant relief to immigrants on Medically Deferred Action and why the new policy is not only still cruel but a waste of government resources.
Consulte Mais informação »