Senator Murray, Representative DeLauro Call on Labor Board to Uphold Law, Not Ignore Bipartisan Agreement

Cite recent reports that White House budget office has directed NLRB to freeze funding, in violation of law

Labor board top lawyer is also reportedly attempting to reorganize the Board based off President Trump’s budget request, also in violation of the law

These actions directly contradict the bipartisan agreement that Congress just passed

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), and Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), ranking members of the Senate and House Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, sent a letter today to National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) General Counsel Peter Robb warning him against reported attempts to freeze NLRB funding based on a supposed rescission package from the President that has not been released yet. Senator Murray and Representative DeLauro reminded General Counsel Robb that these attempts would violate both the spirit and the letter of the bipartisan budget deal President Trump signed into law earlier this month, and would have a negative impact on workers.

“Any actions to unilaterally reduce spending or improperly reorganize like the ones reported would be particularly troubling given that President Trump just recently signed bipartisan legislation that set spending levels and guidance for agencies into law, based on negotiations by us and other members of Congress on both sides of the aisle,” wrote the Members of Congress. “Any attempt to go back on the deal we made would be an extreme act of bad faith, in addition to being bad for workers and a violation of the law.”

Earlier this month, it was reported that the Office of Management and Budget has prohibited the NLRB from spending the funds Congress appropriated, in violation of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018. It was also reported that General Counsel Robb was planning on making major structural changes to the Board based on the President’s requested budget, despite the fact that Congress has the sole authority to set funding levels for the Board, not the President, and Congress rejected President Trump’s requested budget cuts to the Board.

Full text of the letter below and signed PDF HERE.

April 25, 2018

The Honorable Peter B. Robb

General Counsel

National Labor Relations Board

1015 Half Street S.E.

Washington, D.C. 20570

Dear General Counsel Robb,

We are concerned about recent reports that the Office of Management and Budget has directed the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to freeze funding in preparation for a possible rescission package.[1] There have also been reports of plans for the Agency to reorganize Regions and change casehandling procedures based on the funding level proposed in the President’s budget.[2] If these reports are true, this would violate the letter and spirit of our bipartisan budget deal, it would have a significant negative impact on workers across the country, and we urge you to change course immediately.

We remind you that Congress, not the Administration, has the ultimate authority to set funding levels for executive branch agencies. GAO has previously concluded that “amounts withheld as a consequence of a ‘cancellation proposal’ constitute impoundments that agencies may take only after the President transmits a special message to Congress under the Impoundment Control Act.”[3] In other words, agencies may not withhold appropriated funds from obligation in advance of submitting a special impoundment message. They also may not withhold funds from obligation based on the President’s budget proposal, outside of the special impoundment message procedures. We expect that all Agency spending and reorganizations will be made in accordance with federal law, especially the Impoundment Control Act, and that the NLRB will consult with Congress wherever appropriate.

Any actions to unilaterally reduce spending or improperly reorganize like the ones reported would be particularly troubling given that President Trump just recently signed bipartisan legislation that set spending levels and guidance for agencies into law, based on negotiations by us and other members of Congress on both sides of the aisle. Any attempt to go back on the deal we made would be an extreme act of bad faith, in addition to being bad for workers and a violation of the law.

Thank you for your attention to this letter. We would appreciate a prompt reply that includes assurances you will abide by all applicable provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018, as well as the Impoundment Control Act.