Senator Collins’ Inaction Raises Questions Amid Federal Fund Controversy
Senator Susan Collins of Maine, who chairs the influential Senate Appropriations Committee, has not initiated an investigation into the White House’s actions regarding Iran or the alleged illegal withholding of federal funds. This comes despite her position, which empowers her committee to oversee federal budgets and ensure compliance.
As the Republican leader of this committee, Collins is responsible for ensuring appropriate use of federal funds. The committee holds the authority to investigate any misuse and can leverage this power to influence future funding decisions, a principle known as Congress’ “power of the purse.”
Upon taking charge in January 2025, Collins witnessed the Trump administration’s decision to withhold billions of dollars from various federal agencies, which many legal experts argue violated the Impoundment Control Act of 1974. This act limits a president’s ability to withhold funds.
According to Ilya Somin, a law professor at George Mason University, “No other modern president has tried this on such an enormous scale.” Somin added, “If allowed to stand, it would enable the president to both seize control over hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funds and coerce state and local governments by imposing grant conditions not authorized by Congress.”
Moreover, the daily expenditure of over $1 billion on the ongoing conflict in Iran has also proceeded without seeking congressional approval.
Collins’ reluctance to probe these issues has attracted criticism, particularly given her previous statements on congressional authority. In a 2023 interview on the Bottom Line podcast, she emphasized the necessity of congressional oversight, stating, “It’s Congress that controls the power of the purse under the Constitution, and we should not cede all that authority to the executive branch.”
Her sentiments were echoed in a 2024 interview with WGAN radio, where she remarked, “The power of the purse is a constitutional obligation of Congress and, arguably, our most important responsibility as envisioned by the founders of this nation.”
In July 2025, a rescissions bill, which sought to retract federal funding from certain programs affected by the fund withholding, passed with Republican support. Collins did not back the bill, nor did she support a proposal requiring a review and amendment by her committee, as detailed in a report.
Collins also opposed a recent war powers resolution aimed at compelling the White House to seek congressional approval for the Iran conflict. Financial disclosures reveal she has gained approximately $25,000 through investments in the oil and gas sector since the war commenced.
As Collins seeks a sixth term, her Democratic challenger will emerge from the June 9 primary.
