Source: Fox News
Summary
The Trump administration canceled $810 million in congressionally approved spending for programs serving illegal immigrants, diversity initiatives, and other efforts, claiming they do not benefit American citizens. The move used a “pocket rescission,” a budget maneuver the administration says is within its authority, but which Congress and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) say exceeds the president’s power. Most of the cuts, $567 million, targeted Health and Human Services programs supporting refugees and non-citizens. The White House also sought to rescind $25 million for education programs for migrant students and $70 million for “Woke International Education” programs. Several organizations linked to former President Barack Obama’s administration were affected. Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine, condemned the cuts, calling them an attempt to undermine Congress’s power of the purse.
Our Reading
As expected, the matter has reached another stage.
The administration cancels funds for programs it deems unhelpful to Americans.
It uses a budget maneuver that Congress and the GAO say is illegal.
Most cuts target aid for non-citizens and diversity efforts.
Senators criticize the move, calling it an overreach of executive power.
Author: Evan Null
Trump’s Budget Move
The Trump administration announced the cancellation of $810 million in funding for programs serving illegal immigrants and diversity initiatives. The move was made using a “pocket rescission,” a budget tactic the administration claims is within its authority. However, Congress and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) argue that the practice exceeds the president’s power.
The largest portion of the cuts, $567 million, targeted Health and Human Services programs that supported refugees and non-citizens. The White House also sought to rescind $25 million for education programs for migrant students, citing initiatives such as “an LGBT youth summit” and “Therapy for Latinx workshops.” Another $70 million was cut from “Woke International Education” programs, which the administration said funded foreign students and faculty.
Other programs affected included a Justice Department office focused on reducing racial tensions, a business development initiative for minority entrepreneurs, and a series of Health and Human Services grants described as “outright harmful and blatantly ideological.” Several of the organizations impacted were led by former officials from President Barack Obama’s administration.
Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine, criticized the cuts, calling them an attempt to undermine Congress’s constitutional power of the purse. She argued that the timing of the rescission was intentional, as it would expire before Congress could act. The House of Representatives was out of session through the November election, making it difficult for Congress to respond.
The White House defended the move, citing the Impoundment Control Act, which it claims does not explicitly forbid the president from rescinding funds near the end of a fiscal year. However, the GAO has likened pocket rescissions to a line-item veto, a power the Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional. This is not the first time the administration has used the tactic, as Trump previously canceled $4.9 billion in foreign aid through a similar method.
