The Trump administration is pushing the U.S. Supreme Court to give it the green light to withhold over $4 billion in foreign aid that Congress had previously allocated. The move aligns with President Trump’s goals to reshape U.S. foreign assistance.
The administration is seeking an emergency order to recover funds directed towards foreign assistance programs. A recent ruling by a lower court mandated the government to spend the allocated funds, a ruling the administration is contesting.
Solicitor General D. John Sauer argued that the lower court's injunction posed a threat to the separation of powers, stating that the President should have unified authority in foreign affairs. Judge Amir Ali previously ruled that unless Congress sanctioned the withdrawal of these funds, they needed to be spent.
Last week, Trump notified Congress of his intention not to distribute billions in foreign aid allocated earlier this year. The funds were targeted for various initiatives, including approximately $3 billion for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and contributions towards international democracy and peacekeeping efforts.
This particular tactic of withdrawing funds reflects the president's usage of a legislative tool called pocket rescission as per the Impoundment Control Act. However, the delayed notice during the fiscal year raises concerns that the funds may ultimately remain unutilized due to inadequate time for Congressional action.
Legal challenges from nonprofit organizations connected to the funding have already emerged, marking this as a rare instance where a President has attempted to claw back funds in such a manner in nearly half a century.
The Trump administration has articulated intentions to allocate an additional $6.5 billion for foreign aid after the recent lawsuits.
Any decision from the Supreme Court regarding this matter could arrive at any moment, further intensifying the ongoing disputes surrounding budgetary matters and executive power in foreign aid allocations.
