The debate over impoundment, the president’s refusal to spend money appropriated by Congress, has become prominent in our political discourse. Critics call it a dangerous power grab, while supporters hail it as a necessary tool for fiscal discipline.

One thing is certain: Impoundment isn’t new. Previous U.S. presidents exercised impoundment as a matter of course. Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, and Dwight D. Eisenhower all impounded funds when they deemed it appropriate. Even Thomas Jefferson employed the practice.

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