What does the Anti-Deficiency Act prohibit officials from doing?

The Anti-Deficiency Act is a critical piece of legislation that is designed to ensure that government officials do not spend public funds unless they have been properly appropriated by Congress for specific purposes. This act prohibits federal officials from obligating or spending funds that are not authorized or appropriated, thereby promoting accountability and financial discipline within government operations.

Spending funds on unauthorized purposes directly relates to the core intent of the Anti-Deficiency Act, which is to prevent overspending and misuse of taxpayer dollars. By ensuring that government expenditures align strictly with legislative appropriations, it safeguards against financial mismanagement and protects the integrity of public funds.

Other options, while important in the context of governmental finance and management, do not encapsulate the main focus of the Anti-Deficiency Act as effectively as the prohibition on spending funds outside of authorized purposes.