Antideficiency Act
Definition
The Antideficiency Act is a federal law that bars agencies from spending or obligating federal funds in excess of an appropriation, or before Congress has appropriated money at all, with narrow exceptions for emergencies involving the safety of human life or protection of property.
Why it matters
It is the legal mechanism that forces agencies to furlough employees and halt non-essential operations when Congress fails to pass funding, since spending without an appropriation is a legal violation, not just a policy choice. Confirmed violations must be reported up the chain to the agency head, the President, and Congress.
Seen in the wild
Since fiscal year 2005, GAO has published an annual public compilation of Antideficiency Act violation reports it receives from agencies, including recent submissions from the Department of Defense, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Homeland Security.1