Trump Blocks $4.9 Billion in Foreign Aid Congress Approved Using Rare Maneuver
President Trump has opted to withhold $4.9 billion in foreign aid funds, utilizing a strategy not seen in nearly five decades.
President Donald Trump has directed that $4.9 billion in foreign aid approved by Congress will not be spent, employing a maneuver known as pocket rescission last used nearly 50 years ago.
This action, detailed in a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson on Thursday and made public on the X account of the White House Office of Management and Budget on Friday, affects the State Department and the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
The funds were originally intended for development assistance grants, contributions to the United Nations, international peacekeeping operations, and promoting democratic values abroad.
This move could set a precedent for future administrations seeking to bypass Congress's authority over government spending.
This action, detailed in a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson on Thursday and made public on the X account of the White House Office of Management and Budget on Friday, affects the State Department and the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
The funds were originally intended for development assistance grants, contributions to the United Nations, international peacekeeping operations, and promoting democratic values abroad.
This move could set a precedent for future administrations seeking to bypass Congress's authority over government spending.
