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US administration use of pocket rescissions

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2026-09-29 23:31 UTC → 2026-09-30 21:56 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Trump administration has moved to unilaterally withhold approximately $810 million in congressionally approved federal spending by utilizing a tactic known as a ‘pocket rescission’. By submitting funding blocks near the end of the federal fiscal year, the administration aims to let the funds expire before Congress can complete the required 45-day review period. The targeted reductions affect 11 different pools of money across several departments, including Health and Human Services, Education, Homeland Security, and Justice. A significant portion, roughly $567 million, is directed at programs serving refugees, asylum seekers, and unaccompanied minors. Other cuts target migrant student programs, minority-owned business development, and environmental initiatives. The White House defended the action as an effort to eliminate ‘harmful’ and ‘wasteful’ spending, specifically arguing that refugee funds are ‘overfunded due to the Administration’s successful border policies’ and claiming certain minority health funding violates anti-DEI executive orders. The maneuver has drawn sharp criticism from lawmakers and oversight bodies. The Government Accountability Office has indicated that such rescissions are not permitted under the Impoundment Control Act of 1974. Senator Susan Collins, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has condemned the move as an ‘unlawful usurpation’ and a ‘clear violation of the law’. She is considering legal action and has indicated she will ask the GAO to file a lawsuit to stop the maneuver. This marks the second year of such disputes, following a previous instance where the administration withheld $4.9 billion in approved spending. Recent developments show the $810 million package includes $70 million in Title VI international education funding. Amidst these efforts, the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES) narrowly met a federal court-mandated deadline to spend over $170 million in research funds before the September 30 deadline, following a lawsuit from transparency advocates.

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