North Dakota’s entire $35 million housing budget hangs in jeopardy after newly elected Governor Kelly Armstrong accidentally vetoed it during a routine attempt to strike individual line items.
Key Takeaways
- Governor Kelly Armstrong mistakenly vetoed the entire $35 million state housing budget rather than just specific line items as intended
- The error was described as a markup mistake by Armstrong’s staff, threatening funding for critical housing initiatives
- Legislative Council Director John Bjornson called the situation unprecedented in his 37-year career
- Without intervention, the accidental veto takes effect July 1, potentially requiring a special legislative session to correct
- The legislature has only six days remaining in its 80-day session to address the issue
A $35 Million Mistake
In an unprecedented administrative blunder, North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong accidentally eliminated the state’s entire $35 million housing budget while attempting to make selective cuts to specific line items. The error occurred during routine review of an agency budget bill when Armstrong intended to veto only a $150,000 grant for a Native American homelessness liaison position. Instead, his staff’s markup errors resulted in striking the complete housing budget allocation, sending shockwaves through state government and pending housing projects across North Dakota.
“North Dakota Republican Gov. Kelly Armstrong accidentally vetoed $35 million for the state’s housing budget while attempting to veto a couple of line items in an agency budget bill,” said Kelly Armstrong, Governor of North Dakota.
The situation has left state officials scrambling for solutions with the veto set to take effect on July 1. Armstrong’s office has already acknowledged the error and committed to finding a remedy, characterizing it as an “honest mistake.” However, the fix may not be simple, potentially requiring either a legislative override vote that would inadvertently reinstate the funding Armstrong originally wanted to cut, or the creation of an entirely new funding bill that could take up to three days to process.
Unprecedented Legislative Challenge
The gravity of the situation is underscored by comments from longtime government officials who have never witnessed such a scenario. The error highlights the precision required when wielding line-item veto power and the potential consequences when that precision fails. Even experienced legislative directors were taken aback by the magnitude of the mistake and the procedural complications it has created.
“John Bjornson, the legislative council director, noted that he had never seen anything like this in his 37 years of service,” said John Bjornson, Legislative Council Director.
The error is particularly notable as Armstrong is still in his first legislative session as governor after being elected in 2024. The mistake threatens to overshadow other accomplishments of his early administration and puts pressure on his staff to demonstrate competence in managing basic governmental functions. The situation also raises questions about oversight procedures in the governor’s office and whether additional safeguards should be implemented for future veto actions.
Race Against the Clock
Time is quickly becoming a critical factor in resolving this budgetary crisis. With only six days remaining in the legislature’s constitutionally limited 80-day session, lawmakers face significant procedural hurdles to correct the error before adjournment. If the current session ends without resolution, a special session would become necessary, creating additional costs for taxpayers and delays for housing projects dependent on the funding.
“Armstrong’s office stated that the veto was an honest mistake and that they would work to fix it,” stated Armstrong’s office.
While the governor’s office has acknowledged the error and pledged to work toward a solution, the clock continues ticking toward the July 1 implementation date. Housing advocates and project managers across the state are now faced with uncertainty about future funding, potentially stalling development and construction that was dependent on these appropriations. The situation serves as a stark reminder of how administrative errors can have far-reaching impacts on practical government functions and the citizens who depend on them.
