House Republicans are advancing a bill that would dramatically expand the administration’s authority to withhold payments in federal programs, but the legislation is written so broadly that Democrats and others fear it would give the administration unprecedented authority on a number of fronts.
Cracking down on fraud has become a key part of Republicans’ midterm messaging as they try to hold a razor-thin majority this fall. Measures like H.R. 8464—which would require the heads of agencies to delay, condition, or segment a payment request if there is an indication of an “elevated risk” of fraud—could be included in another ...