OPINION More Power to President Trump As He Attempts to Cut $5 Billion in Foreign Aid Already Approved by Congress
Dear Friends,
I like what Donald Trump is doing overall. I know some of you may not like this move that he’s making to go around Congress and one Republican called it illegal, so I’ll withhold judgement on the legality, but I appreciate the spirit of what’s President Trump is trying to get done here.
See the Reuters story below. Share your feedback on this, folks. It’s always appreciated.
Respectfully Yours,
JUDSON Bennett–Coastal Network
Trump escalates spending fight with Congress, says he will cancel $5 billion
By Nolan D. McCaskill and Bo Erickson
August 29, 2025 11:10 AM EDT
*Trump bypasses Congress with ‘pocket rescission’ tactic
*Funds earmarked for foreign aid, UN peacekeeping, democracy efforts
*Republican Senator Collins calls action illegal, urges bipartisan process
WASHINGTON, Aug 29 (Reuters) – President Donald Trump has moved to unilaterally cancel $4.9 billion in federal funding authorized by Congress, escalating the fight over who controls the nation’s spending.
In a letter posted online late Thursday, Trump told House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson that he plans to withhold funding for 15 international programs.
The U.S. Constitution grants funding power to Congress, which every year has to pass legislation to fund government operations.
The White House must secure Congress’ approval if it does not want to spend that money. Congress did this in July when it canceled $9 billion in foreign aid and public media funding.
The latest move — known as a “pocket rescission” – bypasses Congress entirely.
Trump budget director Russell Vought has argued that Trump can withhold funds for 45 days, which would run out the clock until it expires at the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30. The White House said the tactic was last used in 1977.
According to a court document filed on Friday, the money at issue was earmarked for foreign aid, United Nations peacekeeping operations, and democracy-promotion efforts overseas. Most of that had been handled by the U.S. Agency for International Development, which Trump’s administration has largely dismantled.
Democrats say the administration had frozen more than $425 billion in funding overall.
Most Republican lawmakers have said they support spending cuts in any form even if it erodes Congress’ authority.
But Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine, who oversees spending legislation as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said the action is illegal.
“Instead of this attempt to undermine the law, the appropriate way is to identify ways to reduce excessive spending through the bipartisan, annual appropriations process,” she said in a statement.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Trump is aiming to force a government shutdown at the end of September by indicating that he is willing to ignore any spending laws passed by Congress.
“Republicans don’t have to be a rubber stamp for this carnage,” Schumer said in a statement.