WASHINGTON — In a dramatic move that has shaken Washington, President Donald Trump announced he is canceling $4.9 billion in foreign aid—a decision that sidesteps Congress and deepens the growing battle over who really controls America’s budget.
In a letter released late Thursday, Trump informed House Speaker Mike Johnson that he plans to withhold funding across 15 international programs. The money was originally authorized by Congress for global efforts including United Nations peacekeeping operations and democracy promotion overseas, much of it managed by the US Agency for International Development—an agency Trump’s administration has largely dismantled.
The U.S. Constitution clearly states that Congress holds the “power of the purse,” authorizing funding for government operations each year. But Trump’s latest tactic, known as a “pocket rescission,” bypasses Congress entirely. By withholding funds for up to 45 days—just enough to stretch until the end of the fiscal year on September 30—the White House may be able to effectively cancel the money without approval. The last time this strategy was used was in 1977.
The move has drawn both support and outrage.
At the United Nations, spokesperson Stephane Dujarric warned that the sudden loss of funding could hit hard:
“This is going to make our budget situation that much more challenging, but we will follow up with US authorities to get more details.”
On Capitol Hill, the response split along familiar party lines.
Democrats blasted the decision, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer accusing Trump of deliberately pushing the country toward a government shutdown:
“Republicans don’t have to be a rubber stamp for this carnage,” Schumer said.
Even some Republicans voiced concern. Senator Susan Collins of Maine, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, called Trump’s move illegal and an attack on the balance of power:
“Instead of this attempt to undermine the law, the appropriate way is to identify ways to reduce excessive spending through the bipartisan, annual appropriations process,” she said.
Still, many Republicans are standing by the President, arguing that cutting spending—no matter how it’s done—is worth it.
For now, the fight over the $4.9 billion has become more than a budget issue. It is a test of separation of powers, raising a pressing question in Washington: Who really decides where America’s money goes—the President or Congress?
