The 142-page report on the investigation alleges the administration had full knowledge it could not fund its “Cost Sharing Program” (CSP). This program was put in place under the Affordable Care Act to subsidize low-income Obamacare enrollees’ out-of-pocket costs, using federal dollars, yet the administration still opted to allocate funds without Congressional approval.
The findings show the administration initially requested $3.9 billion in appropriations for CSP in 2013, which was denied. The request was later withdrawn in 2014 — roughly $7 billion has since been spent on the program.
“The administration sought to withhold information from Congress by effectively claiming the deliberative process privilege,” the report says. “That privilege does not apply in this instance.”
The IRS raised questions on the legality of the payment to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which GOP lawmakers say was not properly handled, according to the report.
