This seems to be a case of administration impounding funds authorized by Congress for this purpose. As in they’re just spending what Congress told them to.

And unfortunately SCOTUS made it harder for private groups to sue over impounding. And seems to argue only the GAOs comptroller can sue under the impoundments control act (ICA). GAO is the part of Congress that investigates when executive branch isn’t enforcing the law / spending funds. But have themselves limited ability to enforce anything.

It’s another post watergate reform eroded by Trump II. The ICA was created to stop these sorts of impoundments that happens with Nixon and earlier.

Notably members of Congress are working to pause the dismantling

https://apnews.com/article/ocean-observatories-initiative-tr...