Appeals court rules against Trump admin in big case — and gives deadline to comply
A federal appeals court ruled over the weekend that Donald Trump's administration's moves on government spending are an affront to the Constitution and disclosure laws, according to Politico.
According to the outlet, the three-judge D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals panel voted unanimously to "shoot down a Trump administration bid to make secret a public database of federal spending that researchers say is crucial to ensure the administration is not flouting Congress’ power of the purse." The court also imposed a deadline, according to the report.
The court reportedly gave "the administration until Friday to put the data back online."
"Two of the three appeals judges assigned to the matter also signed onto a forceful opinion declaring that the administration’s bid to conceal the data was an affront to Congress’ authority over government spending, one that threatened the separation of powers and defied centuries of evidence that public disclosure is necessary for the public good," according to the report.
Politico further noted that, "Judge Karen Henderson, a George H.W. Bush appointee, wrote in support of the decision to deny the Trump administration’s request to keep the data under wraps while litigation over the issue goes forward," and quoted her as saying, "No court would allow a losing party to defy its judgment. No President would allow a usurper to command our armed forces."
She added, “And no Congress should be made to wait while the Executive intrudes on its plenary power over appropriations.”