Which statement about the Antideficiency Act is true?

• A. It governs procurement cycles.
• B. It sets vendor selection rules.
• C. It defines audit requirements.
• D. It prohibits expenditures beyond available funds and ensures no unauthorized commitments.

Answer: (D)

The Antideficiency Act is about keeping government spending within the money that has actually been appropriated. It stops agencies from obligating or expending funds when there aren’t available funds, and it forbids entering into contracts or other commitments without an authorized appropriation. This is exactly what the true statement conveys: no expenditures beyond available funds and no unauthorized commitments. Procurement cycles, vendor selection rules, and audit requirements are governed by other laws and agency policies, not by this act. For example, signing a contract or placing an order before funds exist would violate the Act, as would spending on purposes not covered by the appropriation. In short, it provides budgetary guardrails to ensure commitments and spending are tied to approved funds.