The administration of US President Donald Trump has announced plans to slash $5 billion in foreign aid already approved by Congress, triggering fresh controversy over the president’s use of executive budgetary powers.
Rarely Used Budgetary Tactic
The White House Office of Management and Budget disclosed the move on Friday, saying the president is using a rarely applied manoeuvre called a pocket rescission.
This mechanism allows a president to request the cancellation of funds close to the end of a fiscal year. If Congress fails to act before the fiscal deadline of September 30, the money lapses automatically.
The last time such a tactic was employed was in 1977 during President Jimmy Carter’s administration.
Key Areas Affected
The proposed cuts affect several foreign aid programmes, including:
$3 billion from USAID allocations.
$900 million from State Department funds.
$800 million meant for international peacekeeping operations.
Over $300 million for programmes promoting democratic values abroad.
In a statement, the White House said the decision was aimed at “cutting government spending that is woke, weaponised, and wasteful.”
Legal and Political Pushback
The move has already sparked criticism from lawmakers and experts.
Senator Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, insisted that the US Constitution places budgetary authority in the hands of Congress. She described Trump’s action as “a clear violation of the law” and urged him to pursue spending cuts through the bipartisan appropriations process.
Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer also condemned the decision, warning it could undermine congressional authority and risk an “unnecessary government shutdown.”
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has similarly questioned the legality of pocket rescissions, arguing that the tool sidesteps Congress’s constitutional “power of the purse.”
Foreign Aid Cuts in Focus
Since returning to the White House, President Trump has consistently targeted foreign aid, branding much of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) spending as wasteful. The latest move, analysts say, reflects his administration’s broader strategy to reduce America’s role in global aid and peacekeeping efforts.