National Aeronautics and Space Administration--Constellation Program and Appropriations Restrictions, Part II

This opinion is GAO's second in response to a March 12, 2010 letter requesting GAO's views on several matters related to NASA and its Constellation program. GAO's earlier opinion, B-319488, May 21, 2010, found that NASA has not violated a restriction in NASA's fiscal year 2010 Exploration appropriation on the use of Exploration funds to "create or initiate a new program, project or activity." In this opinion, we responded to questions regarding whether NASA has obligated Exploration appropriations in a manner consistent with the Impoundment Control Act and whether NASA complied with a restriction in the fiscal year 2010 Exploration appropriation that bars NASA from using the Exploration appropriation for the "termination or elimination of any program, project or activity" of the Constellation program. GAO found that NASA has not violated the Impoundment Control Act or the provision in the Exploration appropriation concerning termination or elimination of a Constellation program, project, or activity.