[Question Concerning Reporting of Department of Justice Impoundment]

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO explained why it did not report that the Department of Justice withheld funds from obligation for 2 months, as required by the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act. GAO stated that: (1) it was initially unable to confirm that an impoundment was taking place; (2) Justice had stated that it was obligating the funds, but it was slow in approving grant awards; (3) when it confirmed that a withholding was taking place, Congress was in recess, and it had received assurances that the President would report it within a reasonable time; and (4) in his third special message to Congress, the President proposed a rescission of budget authority available for justice assistance.