Architect of the Capitol: Purchase and Use of Motor Vehicles. (Appropriations, Antideficiency)

This Appropriations decision is discussed by the Architect of the Capitol's Inspector General in the Audits Section of the Home Page.

Architect of the Capitol—Purchase and Use of Motor Vehicles, B-333508, September 7, 2023

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AOC violated the Antideficiency Act when it obligated appropriations for the purchase of a passenger motor vehicle in excess of the fiscal year 2021 statutory price limitation. AOC did not violate the purpose statute when it obligated appropriations for the purchase and installation of motor vehicle accessories on a vehicle for the then-Architect’s use. The then-Architect had statutory discretion to determine that agency appropriations were available for his use of AOC vehicles to carry out his statutory duties, provided that he properly determined that such use was necessary to carry out the emergency functions vested in him by law. However, such discretion does not extend to permitting family members of the then-Architect to use the vehicle. Thus, AOC violated the purpose statute when it obligated appropriations for expenses incurred in relation to the use of AOC vehicles by the then-Architect’s family members. Our conclusions here are limited to an evaluation of the legal availability of the appropriation for the specified use. We recognize that even where we find no violation of appropriations law, an agency official’s use of appropriations can still be wasteful and abusive and fall short of a prudent use of taxpayer dollars.