TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A constitutional showdown looms in Taiwan as the Control Yuan (監察院) prepares to challenge severe budget cuts that have crippled its operations. The watchdog agency announced plans Friday (March 21) to seek a constitutional interpretation after the Presidential Office (總統府) confirmed this year's central government budget, which maintains drastic reductions to the Control Yuan's funding. The unprecedented legal challenge, scheduled for Monday, represents a rare public conflict between Taiwan's government branches and raises fundamental questions about the independence of the nation's primary oversight institution. The dispute centers on cuts that have left the agency unable to perform its constitutionally mandated functions.
The severity of the financial crisis facing the Control Yuan becomes clear when examining the numbers. The agency's original 2025 budget proposal of approximately NT$1.09 billion (about US$33 million) allocated over NT$800 million (about US$24.2 million) for essential personnel costs. However, the Legislative Yuan implemented a devastating 96% reduction to the agency's NT$240 million (about US$7.3 million) operational budget, leaving a mere NT$10 million (about US$303,000) to fund its investigative and oversight activities. During a somber press conference, officials revealed the practical consequences of these cuts: unpaid utility bills stretching back two months and formal payment demands from Taiwan Power (台電). Some dedicated Control Yuan members have resorted to funding official investigations from their personal finances.
The confirmation of the budget has pushed the Control Yuan to take unprecedented legal action. In a statement released hours after the Presidential Office's announcement, the agency revealed that Yang Chang-hsien (楊昌憲), director of investigations, will partner with attorney Wang Shou-yen (王首雁) to formally challenge the budget cuts. The pair will file a request for constitutional interpretation with the Constitutional Court (憲法法庭) at precisely 2:30 p.m. on Monday. This legal maneuver represents a last-resort effort to restore funding that the agency deems essential for fulfilling its constitutional mandate as Taiwan's primary government watchdog institution.
