Trump cancels nearly $1bn of Congress‑approved funding for immigrant services

President Donald Trump has used a rare “pocket rescission” power to cancel almost $1 billion in spending that had been approved by Congress, the White House announced on Friday.

The Office of Management and Budget said the cuts target what it described as “the most harmful government spending”, focusing on programmes that support immigrants, including non‑profits that aid refugees and unaccompanied minors. The administration argues the funds are no longer required because illegal border crossings have fallen sharply.

Senator Susan Collins, chair of the Senate appropriations committee, condemned the move as an “illegal action” taken without warning or consultation, adding that it usurps Congress’s constitutional power of the purse. Democratic Senator Patty Murray called the rescission “theft from the American people”, noting that the funds were approved on a bipartisan basis.

Typically, Congress reviews any presidential spending cuts before they take effect, but the announcement came with only five days left in the federal fiscal year, making review difficult. The Government Accountability Office has labelled the maneuver illegal, and legal experts say it challenges long‑standing checks on executive authority.

Source: The Guardian. Photo: Mark Stebnicki / Pexels.