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US President Donald Trump Cancels Nearly $5B in Foreign Aid
President Donald Trump has moved to cancel about $4.9 billion in foreign aid that Congress had previously approved. He invoked a rarely used budget provision called a “pocket rescission” under the Impoundment Control Act. The move allows the administration to block funds close to the end of the fiscal year, effectively canceling them if Congress does not act within 45 days.
Scope of Cuts
The cuts affect several programs, including U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) initiatives, democracy promotion projects, and United Nations peacekeeping contributions. The administration defended the step as part of its “America First” approach, describing the targeted funds as “wasteful spending.”
Legal and Political Fallout
The announcement triggered sharp bipartisan criticism. Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (Republican, Maine) and Senator Patty Murray (Democrat, Washington) both condemned the move as unlawful and warned it undermines Congress’s constitutional power of the purse. Critics also cautioned that the tactic could complicate budget negotiations and heighten the risk of a government shutdown.
