Doug Criscitello
@criscitello.bsky.social
Government finance & policy. Executive director USAlending.org. Former Arnold Ventures, MIT Golub Center, OMB, CBO, NYC IBO.
Some thoughts on the shutdown and the real-time rebalancing of power - whether legal or not - we're witnessing across branches of the U.S. government. www.forbes.com/sites/dougcr...
Shutdowns And The New Reach Of Presidential Budgeting
Congress’ ability to exert its constitutional power-of-the-purse duties is substantially weakened if the president can simply reassign funds to his priority areas.
www.forbes.com
October 22, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Some thoughts on the shutdown and the real-time rebalancing of power - whether legal or not - we're witnessing across branches of the U.S. government. www.forbes.com/sites/dougcr...
Reposted by Doug Criscitello
Trump's mechanism to pay the troops during the shutdown is by far the most illegal budgetary action he's taken as POTUS, potentially setting the stage to break everything.
It's also needless because Congress would easily pass a troop pay bill if Johnson were willing to gavel in.
Long thread.
It's also needless because Congress would easily pass a troop pay bill if Johnson were willing to gavel in.
Long thread.
October 15, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Trump's mechanism to pay the troops during the shutdown is by far the most illegal budgetary action he's taken as POTUS, potentially setting the stage to break everything.
It's also needless because Congress would easily pass a troop pay bill if Johnson were willing to gavel in.
Long thread.
It's also needless because Congress would easily pass a troop pay bill if Johnson were willing to gavel in.
Long thread.
A colleague asked me to comment on how FY25 wrapped: amts obligated, spent, withheld, etc. Having no clue didn't stop me from writing 900 words on the matter. www.forbes.com/sites/dougcr...
How Last Year’s Spending Uncertainty Complicates Government Reopening
Uncertainty about the extent to which funds from last year went unspent due to executive actions is complicating efforts to reach a deal to end the government shutdown.
www.forbes.com
October 11, 2025 at 5:04 PM
A colleague asked me to comment on how FY25 wrapped: amts obligated, spent, withheld, etc. Having no clue didn't stop me from writing 900 words on the matter. www.forbes.com/sites/dougcr...
Reposted by Doug Criscitello
So they didn't let me use any barnyard epithets, but here's a fuller discussion of why it would be illegal to deny pay to furloughed federal workers at the end of a shutdown. www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
October 8, 2025 at 10:08 PM
So they didn't let me use any barnyard epithets, but here's a fuller discussion of why it would be illegal to deny pay to furloughed federal workers at the end of a shutdown. www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
Social Security: From Simple Concept To Spinal Tap Absurdity #spinaltap2 via
@forbes
forbes.com/sites/dougcr...
@forbes
forbes.com/sites/dougcr...
Social Security: From Simple Concept To Spinal Tap Absurdity
Social Security faces a severe funding shortfall requiring congressional action. Reforms should not only shore up finances but make benefit rules more easily understood.
forbes.com
September 12, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Social Security: From Simple Concept To Spinal Tap Absurdity #spinaltap2 via
@forbes
forbes.com/sites/dougcr...
@forbes
forbes.com/sites/dougcr...
Pocket rescissions: new name for impoundment; built on flawed legal theory conflicting with the very purpose of impoundment control; direct threat to balance of power with president having broad, unchecked authority to decide which programs to fund & which to cancel.
www.forbes.com/sites/dougcr...
www.forbes.com/sites/dougcr...
Pocket Rescissions By Any Other Name Are Impoundments
The Trump administration is putting into practice its legally dubious pocket rescission policy, giving the president power to cut spending without congressional approval.
www.forbes.com
September 4, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Pocket rescissions: new name for impoundment; built on flawed legal theory conflicting with the very purpose of impoundment control; direct threat to balance of power with president having broad, unchecked authority to decide which programs to fund & which to cancel.
www.forbes.com/sites/dougcr...
www.forbes.com/sites/dougcr...
My latest post explores how the Antideficiency Act would come into play in the event of a government shutdown. From Power Of The Purse To Power Of The President via @forbes www.forbes.com/sites/dougcr...
From Power Of The Purse To Power Of The President
Trump’s presidency marks a shift in budgetary power through impoundments, rescissions and perhaps shutdown authorities to expand executive control over federal spending.
www.forbes.com
August 1, 2025 at 2:39 PM
My latest post explores how the Antideficiency Act would come into play in the event of a government shutdown. From Power Of The Purse To Power Of The President via @forbes www.forbes.com/sites/dougcr...
Just posted an issue brief re budget uncertainties beyond the reconciliation bill moving thru Congress. Worth a read given a recent @USGAO finding that the administration illegally impounded funds intended for electric vehicles support. @Arnold_Ventures: www.arnoldventures.org/resources/be...
Beyond Reconciliation: U.S. Budget Uncertainties Persist
Viewing philanthropy as an engine of innovation, we rigorously research problems and answers in criminal justice, health, education and public finance.
www.arnoldventures.org
May 27, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Just posted an issue brief re budget uncertainties beyond the reconciliation bill moving thru Congress. Worth a read given a recent @USGAO finding that the administration illegally impounded funds intended for electric vehicles support. @Arnold_Ventures: www.arnoldventures.org/resources/be...
Whole lotta focus right now on tax cuts & reconciliation but that doesn't lessen the need to continue to monitor current year budgeting. My latest: www.forbes.com/sites/dougcr...
DOGE Disruptions Are Just Beginning To Impact Budgeting
While legislation to cut taxes is receiving considerable attention in DC right now, other budgetary events are unfolding that could prove to be highly consequential.
www.forbes.com
May 12, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Whole lotta focus right now on tax cuts & reconciliation but that doesn't lessen the need to continue to monitor current year budgeting. My latest: www.forbes.com/sites/dougcr...
Recently had a chance to rap about Social Security with the incomparableTerry Gerton open.spotify.com/episode/1hOn...
The biggest problem with the social security program is not customer service
The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton · Episode
open.spotify.com
May 3, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Recently had a chance to rap about Social Security with the incomparableTerry Gerton open.spotify.com/episode/1hOn...
As fiscal attention on the Hill shifts to passing a reconciliation bill, concern mounts re FY25 budget execution #impoundment
Whoa: GAO's leader, Gene Dodaro, just told Sen. Murray that the oversight office has **39 investigations** under way into whether the Trump admin is illegally impounding funds, and said OMB in particular has not been "responsive."
April 29, 2025 at 8:00 PM
As fiscal attention on the Hill shifts to passing a reconciliation bill, concern mounts re FY25 budget execution #impoundment
Turned my focus to Social Security to counter social media rants doing nothing but angering folks on the wrong issues. If you want to get riled up, focus on how SSA will be unable to pay full benefits in about 8 years. Yet politicans continue to kick can down the road. www.forbes.com/sites/dougcr...
DOGE Reforms Won’t Solve Social Security Solvency Crisis
Operational reforms at the Social Security Administration will not remedy the most serious fiscal challenges facing Social Security: The solvency of its trust funds.
www.forbes.com
April 14, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Turned my focus to Social Security to counter social media rants doing nothing but angering folks on the wrong issues. If you want to get riled up, focus on how SSA will be unable to pay full benefits in about 8 years. Yet politicans continue to kick can down the road. www.forbes.com/sites/dougcr...
We Need a Reminder of What the Pre-Vaccine Era Was Like www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Opinion | A Reminder of What Pre-Vaccine America Was Like
The worst manifestations of preventable diseases have faded from public memory.
www.nytimes.com
March 14, 2025 at 1:29 PM
We Need a Reminder of What the Pre-Vaccine Era Was Like www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Obviously a consequential week re federal budgeting: The fiscal cliff ahead appears more perilous than the one approached in 2012. My racking & stacking of relevant issues... www.forbes.com/sites/dougcr...
Barreling Toward A Steeper U.S. Fiscal Cliff?
As was the case in 2012, there is an urgent need to secure funding to keep the government open, reconsider expiring tax cuts, avoid a sequester, and extend the debt limt.
www.forbes.com
March 13, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Obviously a consequential week re federal budgeting: The fiscal cliff ahead appears more perilous than the one approached in 2012. My racking & stacking of relevant issues... www.forbes.com/sites/dougcr...
Took a break from commenting on fiscal matters to consider how SBA has strengthened its systems and lending platforms in response to PPP and other Covid assistance spending. www.forbes.com/sites/dougcr...
Necessity Drives Modernization At SBA
After making major upgrades during the COVID-19 crisis, the SBA now has modern systems and lending platforms that could help more U.S. businesses start and grow.
www.forbes.com
February 27, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Took a break from commenting on fiscal matters to consider how SBA has strengthened its systems and lending platforms in response to PPP and other Covid assistance spending. www.forbes.com/sites/dougcr...
My Fellow Members of Congress: This Is a Naked Power Grab www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/o...
Opinion | Rosa DeLauro: Congress, Not Trump, Controls the Money
It is right there, as clear as day in Article I, Section 9, Clause 7 that the legislature controls the money.
www.nytimes.com
February 12, 2025 at 1:49 PM
My Fellow Members of Congress: This Is a Naked Power Grab www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/o...
Statement from the American Bar Association
open.substack.com/pub/asharang...
open.substack.com/pub/asharang...
Statement from the American Bar Association
Lawyers have a professional obligation not to be complicit in undermining democracy.
open.substack.com
February 11, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Statement from the American Bar Association
open.substack.com/pub/asharang...
open.substack.com/pub/asharang...
How is civil society responding to the US constitutional crisis? www.brookings.edu/articles/how...
How is civil society responding to the US constitutional crisis?
Vanessa Williamson examines civil society’s response to democratic erosion and the challenges of collective resistance.
www.brookings.edu
February 11, 2025 at 12:43 AM
How is civil society responding to the US constitutional crisis? www.brookings.edu/articles/how...
Although a deficit hawk, I'd rather have a huge deficit incurred legally than a balanced budget realized through illegal actions.
February 5, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Although a deficit hawk, I'd rather have a huge deficit incurred legally than a balanced budget realized through illegal actions.
Some of this will come to a head when the current CR expires on Mar 14. Congress will either ratify or reject what's been happening... or there'll be a government shutdown.
President Donald Trump’s administration launched one of its most brazen challenges to Congress’s authority. Many lawmakers offered little pushback.
Congress is quiet as Trump and Musk take the ax to federal agencies
President Donald Trump’s administration this week launched one of its most brazen challenges yet to Congress’s authority. Lawmakers offered little pushback.
wapo.st
February 5, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Some of this will come to a head when the current CR expires on Mar 14. Congress will either ratify or reject what's been happening... or there'll be a government shutdown.
I already miss the days of focusing on policy rather than procedure
February 4, 2025 at 10:22 PM
I already miss the days of focusing on policy rather than procedure
Federal budget geek that I am, can't quite figure out why the high school basketball taunt "YOU CAN'T DO THAT" is now playing on repeat in my mind.
Conservative budget wonks (Manhattan Instiutte, Tax Foundation) confirming that this is a consittutional crisis. Not liberal hysteria. Happening right now.
February 4, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Federal budget geek that I am, can't quite figure out why the high school basketball taunt "YOU CAN'T DO THAT" is now playing on repeat in my mind.