WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined his colleagues in a letter to President Biden, requesting a full accounting of federal funding used to-date to implement Executive Order 14019 on “Promoting Access to Voting,” which directs federal agencies to submit plans to the White House describing how it will use taxpayer-funded resources to engage in voter mobilization.

On May 10, 2023, a group of senators first submitted an inquiry regarding Executive Order 14019. The initial deadline for providing this information was May 23, 2023, so the response is now 27 weeks overdue.

"The Order outlines various activities in which agencies are to engage, including promoting mail-in voting and partnering with third- party organizations to register voters,” the senators wrote. “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. In other words, it's not the job of the federal government to drive voter turnout. Reviewing these agency plans is crucial to determining whether this order has or may lead to the improper use of federal resources.”

“Using appropriated funds for a purpose that Congress did not expressly authorize would constitute a violation of the Antideficiency Act (31 U.S.C. § 1341(a)(1)(A)), which prohibits agencies from expending or obligating funds in a manner not authorized by law. Violating this statute carries administrative and potential criminal penalties, highlighting the need for transparency. Unfortunately, the White House has kept these plans hidden despite numerous requests from Congress,” the senators continued.

The letter was led by U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN). Additional cosponsors include U.S. Senators Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Ted Budd (R-NC), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Katie Britt (R-AL), Rodger Wicker (R-MS), Mike Lee (R-UT), Mike Braun (R-IN), Rick Scott (R-FL), JD Vance (R-OH), James Lankford (R-OK), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Jim Risch (R-ID), Steve Daines (R-MT), and Mike Crapo (R-ID).

Click here for the letter.