In an effort to gain more control over the country’s expenditures, President Donald Trump has unilaterally canceled $4.9 billion in congressionally approved federal funds.
Trump informed Speaker Mike Johnson of the House of Representatives that he intends to stop funding 15 foreign initiatives in a letter that was made public online late Thursday.
The U.S. Constitution gives Congress the authority to enact laws each year to finance government operations.
If the White House does not wish to spend the money, it must get Congress’s agreement.
In July, Congress took this action by canceling $9 billion in funding for public media and overseas aid.
A “pocket rescission” is the most recent action that completely circumvents Congress.
Russell Vought, the budget director for Trump, has maintained that Trump has 45 days to withhold money, which would expire on September 30 at the end of the fiscal year.
According to the White House, the strategy was last employed in 1977.
The funds in question were designated for international relief, UN peacekeeping missions, and initiatives to advance democracy abroad, per a court filing on Friday.
The U.S. Agency for International Development, which Trump’s administration has mainly gutted, had been in charge of most of it.
Democrats claim that over $425 billion in funding has been suspended by the administration.
The majority of Republican members have stated that they are in favor of any expenditure cut, even if it weakens the power of Congress.
However, the conduct is unlawful, according to Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee and is responsible for overseeing spending bills.
“The proper approach is to find ways to reduce excessive spending through the bipartisan, annual appropriations process, rather than this attempt to undermine the law,” she said in a statement.
By stating that he is prepared to disregard any budget legislation passed by Congress, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer claimed that Trump is trying to compel a government shutdown by the end of September.
“Republicans don’t have to be a rubber stamp for this carnage,” Schumer tweeted.
