Reading Room Document
Whether Appropriations May Be Used for Informational Video News Releases
The "covert propaganda" prohibition in appropriations statutes does not apply where there is no advocacy of a particular viewpoint, and therefore it does not apply to the legitimate provision of information concerning the programs administered by an agency, such as through an informational video news release. A recent, contrary opinion of the Comptroller General is not binding on the Executive Branch. The OLC does not provide release dates for its opinions, so the release date listed is the date on which the opinion was authored. The original opinion is available at www.justice.gov/opinion/file/832866/download.
The OLC's Opinions
Opinions published by the OLC, including those released in response to our FOIA lawsuit