Trump cancels $810 million in funding via second pocket rescission
President Trump ordered the cancellation of $810 million in congressionally appropriated funding on Friday, marking the second pocket rescission. The White House action targets unspent money across seven federal departments, including funds designated for services for refugees, asylees, migrant students, and international education grants, drawing sharp criticism from lawmakers in both parties.
The Mechanics of the Pocket Rescission
The White House moved to claw back the funds late Friday, just five days before the federal fiscal year ends. Under the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, a president can propose rescissions of budget authority, which Congress typically has 45 legislative days to approve. However, when proposals are submitted late in the fiscal year, funds can be withheld until they expire.
According to a notice sent to House Speaker Mike Johnson, the administration eliminated 11 pools of unspent money across the Departments of Commerce, Education, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, and Justice, as well as International Assistance Programs. The administration used a similar maneuver last year to cancel $4.9 billion in foreign aid funds, marking the first pocket rescission since the Carter administration in 1977.
Breakdown of Impacted Federal Programs
The largest portion of the canceled funds involves $567 million through the Department of Health and Human Services meant for social services for refugees, asylees, and other migrants. The White House stated these funds are no longer necessary given the near-elimination of illegal border crossings over the past year. Additional cuts target $70 million in international education grants and fellowships, and $56 million in Housing and Urban Development programs supporting outside housing counseling organizations.
Other eliminations include $28 million in HHS grants, $25 million from a Department of Education migrant students initiative, $15 million from the Justice Department’s Community Relations Services, and $15 million from a Department of Homeland Security program providing cultural orientation, healthcare, and legal advice for migrants and asylum seekers. Smaller trims feature $10 million for the Minority Business Development Agency, $10 million for DHS legal services, $5 million for the HHS Office of Minority Health, and $9 million from the Treasury Department’s Tropical Forest and Coral Reef Conservation funds.
Congressional Pushback and Legal Precedents
Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, strongly criticized the White House action, stating lawmakers were informed of the rescissions without warning or consultation. Collins noted that the Government Accountability Office considers pocket rescissions illegal and asserted that the Office of Management and Budget intentionally withheld funds to execute an unlawful cancellation of bipartisan appropriations.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, accused the administration of attempting to strip money promised to communities across the country. Last year’s pocket rescission prompted legal challenges from organizations receiving foreign aid funding. While the Supreme Court ultimately permitted the administration to cancel those funds based on presidential authority over foreign relations, it did not issue a final decision on the underlying legal merits of the tactic.