Under the Anti-Deficiency Act, spending funds for any purpose other than that designated by Congress is prohibited. Which option best expresses this rule?

• A. Yes
• B. No
• C. Only in emergencies
• D. Only with presidential approval

Answer: (B)

The rule is a strict limit on how funds can be used: you can’t spend money for anything Congress hasn’t designated in the appropriation. When asked to express this rule in a simple yes/no framing, the correct response is that such spending is not allowed. In other words, the action described (spending beyond what Congress specified) is prohibited. This reflects the core purpose of appropriations law: agencies must operate within the purposes Congress authorizes and cannot redirect funds without a new or amended appropriation. The other options would imply permissions or exceptions that aren’t part of this prohibition.