WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), and Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) sent a letter to President Biden regarding his failure to appropriately respond to concerns about an executive order that requires federal agencies to engage in voter mobilizations and the potential use of taxpayer dollars for these efforts. The Senators are raising alarm over Executive Order 14019 given it potentially violates the Antideficiency Act, which explicitly prohibits agencies from expending federal funds without Congressional authorization.

“We are concerned by your failure to respond to our previous inquiry on May 10, 2023, regarding Executive Order 14019 on ‘Promoting Access to Voting,’” the Senators wrote. “This policy directive merits congressional oversight both as a general matter and under the Antideficiency Act. Accordingly, we write to reiterate our request for information regarding the implementation of this executive order, including copies of the plans submitted to the White House.” 

“Federal agencies should be focused on their defined missions in a nonpartisan manner, not using taxpayer funds for voter mobilization efforts with potentially partisan impacts,” the Senators continued. “In other words, it’s not the job of the federal government to drive voter turnout.” 

In order to determine the voter mobilization and electioneering activities to which the Biden Administration has devoted taxpayer resources, the Senators once again requested that the Biden Administration provide the American people the following basic information:

• Copies of all federal agency “strategic plans” required under the Order and a list of which agencies have not yet submitted a strategic plan;
• The strategic plan required by the General Services Administration under the Order;
• The recommendations provided by the Office of Personnel Management under the Order; and
• All procedures established by the Attorney General under the Order. 

Co-signers of the letter include Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) along with Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Rodger Wicker (R-Miss.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Bill Casidy (R-La.), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), and Steve Daines (R-Mont.). 

A copy of the letter can be found  here.

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