Order Code RS20775
Updated January 16, 2007
Congressional Use of Funding Cutoffs Since
1970 Involving U.S. Military Forces and
Overseas Deployments
Richard F. Grimmett
Specialist in National Defense
Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division
Summary
This report provides background information on major instances, since 1970, when
Congress has utilized funding cutoffs to compel the withdrawal of United States military
forces from overseas military deployments. It also highlights key efforts by Congress
to utilize the War Powers Resolution to force the withdrawal of U.S. military forces
from foreign deployments. It will be updated should developments warrant.
Introduction
In cases of significant differences with the President over foreign policy, especially
deployments of U.S. military forces abroad, Congress has generally found that use of its
Constitutionally-based “power of the purse” to be the most effective way to compel a
President to take actions regarding use of U.S. military force overseas that he otherwise
might not agree to. Thus, on various occasions since the Vietnam War era, Congress has
used funding cutoffs or significant restrictions on the use of funds as a means of ending
or circumscribing the use of U.S. military personnel for foreign operations. As the
examples set out below indicate, the use of funding cutoffs and restrictions to curtail or
terminate the President’s use of U.S. military force abroad has proven to be much more
efficacious in giving effect to Congress’s policy views in this area than has the War
Powers Resolution.
Congressional Funding Cutoffs since 1970 Utilized to Compel
Withdrawal of U.S. Military Forces from Overseas Deployments
Indochina. During the last years of the Vietnam War, there were a number of
efforts in Congress to attach amendments to legislation to restrict military actions by the
United States in the Indochina region, as part of a larger effort to compel the withdrawal
of U.S. military forces from the area. Nearly all of these proposals did not pass more than
