President Donald Trump is canceling nearly $1 billion in federal spending that Congress has already approved, the White House announced Friday, invoking a rarely used and legally contested tool known as a pocket rescission.
The cuts land mostly on immigrant services and diversity-focused programs, including nonprofits that assist refugees and unaccompanied minors accused of being in the country illegally. The Office of Management and Budget described the money as "the most harmful government spending."
What makes the move so difficult to challenge is the timing. The administration announced the cuts with just five days left in the federal fiscal year. Under federal law, Congress normally has 45 days to review a president's proposed rescissions before they take effect, and that window is now effectively out of reach.
White House Points to Border Numbers
Administration officials say the funding is no longer necessary because illegal border crossings have fallen sharply. The White House press release announcing the cuts also noted that some of the affected organizations are led by people who worked in Barack Obama's administration.
A Tactic With Recent Precedent
It is not the first time Trump has done this. A year ago, he used a pocket rescission for the first time in roughly 50 years, blocking $4.9 billion in foreign aid that Congress had approved. The Supreme Court declined to stop it, saying the president's authority over foreign affairs weighed heavily in its decision.
This time the target is domestic spending rather than foreign aid, a difference that could matter if the cuts end up in court.
A pocket rescission works by running out the clock. Because the request arrives so close to the end of the fiscal year, the money can expire before lawmakers vote, letting the administration sidestep the usual review. Budget director Russ Vought has argued in the past that the end of the fiscal year gives the White House room to do exactly that.
Democrats Push Back
Democrats condemned the announcement. Sen. Patty Murray said Democrats fought during recent spending negotiations to include language stopping the administration from overriding Congress on spending decisions, but Republicans declined to go along.
One Democratic lawmaker said Congress needs to reassert its powers and that Republicans should join the effort, noting the cuts come while tax dollars are being spent on ads promoting Trump.
Separately, House Democrats have said they plan broad oversight of the administration, a sign the spending fight could carry into the months ahead.
Part of a Wider Pattern
The cancellation fits a broader effort by the administration to expand presidential control over government and shrink Congress's role, as the Associated Press reported. The administration has fired federal workers, imposed a historic increase in tariffs and started the war in Iran without going through Congress, leaving the courts to decide how far presidential power extends.
The announcement also comes as the midterm elections approach. The House recently passed a short-term spending bill that avoided another funding standoff before voters go to the polls.
What Happens Next
Congress technically has 45 days to review the cuts, but the fiscal year ends this week, which leaves lawmakers with little practical power to stop them. It is not yet clear whether affected nonprofits or members of Congress will challenge the move in court.
For now, the groups that relied on the money face uncertainty. How courts treat a domestic pocket rescission could shape how future presidents handle spending Congress has already approved.
Reporting for this story drew on coverage from ABC News, PBS News, and WFAA.
