President Donald Trump informed congressional leaders on Friday that he has canceled almost $1 billion in federal spending previously approved by Congress, according to Politico. The White House Office of Management and Budget described the cuts as targeting the most harmful government spending, pointing to programs that are no longer deemed necessary.
Trump Unilaterally Cancels Nearly $1 Billion in Spending
The administration executed the reductions through a budget maneuver known as a pocket rescission,
notifying lawmakers of the cuts with only five days remaining in the federal fiscal year. Under the Impoundment Control Act, a president can propose budget rescissions that give lawmakers 45 legislative days to review, approve, reject, or ignore them. However, by submitting the requests late in the fiscal year, the administration withholds the funds until they lapse, effectively canceling the money without congressional action.
Targeted Domestic Programs and Foreign Initiatives
The canceled funds primarily affect domestic programs, immigrant services, and international education initiatives. According to CBS News, the cuts include $567 million for services supporting refugees, asylees, and migrants through the Department of Health and Human Services, alongside $50 million for other migrant and noncitizen programs.
Additional reductions span multiple federal areas:
- $70 million for international education grants and fellowships
- $56 million for Housing and Urban Development programs
- $28 million in Health and Human Services research grants
- $10 million from a minority business development program
- $9 million in foreign debt relief tied to climate change policies
The White House argued that funding for migrant services is no longer required because illegal border crossings have decreased considerably. A White House press release noted that several organizations receiving the targeted funds are led by individuals who worked in the administration of former President Barack Obama.
Congressional Backlash and Legal Controversy
The maneuver drew sharp rebukes from lawmakers across Capitol Hill, who decried the action as an infringement on Congress’s constitutional power of the purse. Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, stated that the administration acted without warning or consultation, calling the move an illegal impoundment and a usurpation of legislative authority, as reported by The Guardian.
Collins and other critics noted that the Government Accountability Office classifies pocket rescissions as illegal. Democratic Senator Patty Murray of Washington denounced the decision as theft from the American people, emphasizing that the funds were delivered on a bipartisan basis. Similarly, House Appropriations Committee top Democrat Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut urged Republicans to join Democrats in rejecting the administration’s attempt to circumvent Congress.
Precedent and Past Legal Challenges
The latest action marks the second time the Trump administration has employed the tactic. A year ago, Trump issued a pocket rescission for the first time in nearly 50 years—dating back to 1977 during the Carter administration—by blocking $4.9 billion in foreign aid.
While the U.S. Supreme Court declined to block last year’s foreign aid cuts, citing the president’s broad constitutional authority over foreign affairs, legal experts note that this year’s cuts target domestic spending, where executive power is more limited. As Los Angeles Times notes, the ongoing budget dispute sets up an expected funding battle in Congress following the midterms.
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