Office of Management and Budget
13 Articles

Secretary of State Rubio’s Reorganization Plan Could Offer a Chance to Rescue U.S. Foreign Assistance — If He’s Smart About It
After months demolishing foreign aid, the Trump administration could still regroup for something worthy of America’s values and interests.

The Trump Administration Cannot Use Award Terms and Conditions to Impound Funds
The Impoundment Control Act may prohibit agencies from freezing or terminating funding based on changing policy priorities.

A Start for AI Transparency at DHS with Room to Grow
An assessment of the achievements and areas for improvement in the DHS's most recent AI use case inventory.

The Nuts and Bolts of Enforcing AI Guardrails
More work is needed to ensure U.S. federal agencies have the resources to implement essential AI safeguards.

An Oversight Model for AI in National Security: The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board
Congress must create an AI oversight authority with the mandate and resources to build safeguards into these systems from the outset.

Sen. Van Hollen Calls for Paoletta to Relinquish Role as OMB’s Top Ethics Official
Mark Paoletta, the general counsel at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), needs to recuse himself from ongoing inquiries into the Trump administration’s withholding of…
![An email from Mark Paoletta on August 12, 2019 reading, “Alternative language. [Redacted] Mike Paoletta General Counsel Office of Management & Budget [Redacted] (office) [Redacted] (cell)”](https://i0.wp.com/www.justsecurity.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Screen-Shot-2020-02-10-at-12.03.15-PM.png?fit=1024%2C366&ssl=1)
Exclusive: New Unredacted Emails Show How Deeply OMB Misled Congress on Ukraine
New unredacted emails confirm that OMB, including the general counsel’s office, was fully in the loop about the Pentagon’s Ukraine funding worries, and took active steps to…

The Ukrainian “Drug Deal” and All the President’s Lawyers
Lawyers in the Trump administration appear to be acting more like operatives helping to facilitate an illegal scheme, rather than lawyers with an obligation to end it.

GAO Decided Trump’s Hold on Ukraine Funding Was Illegal and It Wasn’t a Tough Call
In addition to the larger implications GAO's decision has for the Senate impeachment trial, a close reading of yesterday's report provides some important new insights.

Exclusive: Unredacted Ukraine Documents Reveal Extent of Pentagon’s Legal Concerns
Just Security has viewed unredacted emails, which tell the behind-the-scenes story of the defense and budget officials who had to carry out the president’s unexplained hold on…

Trump’s Hold on Ukrainian Military Aid was Illegal
The Trump White House created an irregular budgetary process to match its irregular foreign policy process on Ukraine. Trump's withholding of military aid to Ukraine was illegal…

Trump Ordered a Hold on Ukraine Military Assistance Earlier Than Reported
During the last few weeks of impeachment hearings, Republicans liked to cite a number — 55 — the number of days they thought the military aid for Ukraine was withheld. …