Trump Turns to Supreme Court in $4bn Budget Showdown
The Trump administration has asked the US Supreme Court to shield its attempt to withhold $4 billion in foreign aid, reviving a decades-old budgetary tactic that critics call unconstitutional.
The Justice Department’s filing follows a lower court ruling that ordered the funds to be released, stressing that the White House cannot bypass Congress in spending matters. The administration argues otherwise, pointing to a “pocket rescission” power that lets the president hold back money for 45 days after requesting a rescission from Congress.
If the clock runs out before September 30, the end of the fiscal year, the money would lapse. The White House budget office said this approach was last used in 1977.
The funds in question cover humanitarian aid, UN peacekeeping missions, and democracy-promotion efforts. While Congress approved roughly $11 billion for these purposes, the administration has resisted releasing a portion it deems contrary to US interests.
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US District Judge Amir Ali rejected that reasoning on September 3, ruling that appropriations cannot be unilaterally altered. The DC Court of Appeals also declined to pause Ali’s order, prompting the administration to seek Supreme Court relief.
Plaintiffs, including aid groups, warn the maneuver undermines democratic checks and balances. Lawyer Lauren Bateman said the administration is “asking the court to defend an illegal tactic.”
The dispute highlights a recurring friction between Congress and the presidency over control of federal funds. With a conservative-leaning Supreme Court, the case could set a landmark precedent for executive power in fiscal matters.
