Congress Pushes Back as Trump Moves to Rescind $810M in Approved Funding

DID Press: US President Donald Trump has ordered the cancellation of about $810 million in funding previously appropriated by Congress, using a mechanism known as a “pocket rescission,” according to the White House and U.S. media reports.

The measure affects funding across several federal programmes, including services related to health and education, assistance for immigrants and refugees, housing and certain programmes focused on minority communities. The White House says the move is intended to eliminate spending it considers wasteful or harmful.

The largest portion—about $567 million—comes from the Department of Health and Human Services and involves programmes serving non-citizens, including refugees, asylum seekers and other groups, according to the White House.

The decision has drawn criticism from members of Congress, including lawmakers from Trump’s Republican Party. ABC News reported that at least one Republican senator characterized the move as a violation of federal law, while congressional lawmakers have raised questions about the administration’s authority to cancel funds that Congress had already approved.

The use of a pocket rescission is unusual. Bloomberg Government described the move as legally controversial and noted that the administration is using the mechanism shortly before the end of the federal fiscal year.