WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump signed a memorandum in the Oval Office on Aug. 28 directing officials to investigate the use of taxpayer funds for grants that support illegal partisan political activities.
The move comes after preliminary reviews uncovered grant money used with “highly political overtones,” according to the order.
“In addition to being a wasteful, abusive, and potentially fraudulent use of the American people’s money, the possible use of Federal grants as slush funds for political and legislative advocacy raises serious legal concerns,” Trump wrote in the memorandum.
Existing law, known as the Byrd amendment, limits the use of grant money and prohibits some recipients from using the resources for lobbying efforts….