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What to know about the $810 million in spending canceled by President Trump
npr.org • • nation
Key Points:
- President Trump is withholding $810 million in federal funds, including $567 million from programs aiding refugees and non-citizens, defying Congress's appropriations and sparking a dispute over control of federal spending.
- The Government Accountability Office deems this "pocket rescission" illegal because it bypasses the required 45-day notice period allowing Congress to approve or reject fund cancellations.
- Lawmakers from both parties, including Sen. Susan Collins and Sen. Patty Murray, criticize the move as an unconstitutional overreach by the executive branch that undermines Congress's power of the purse.
- The withheld funds also impact Justice Department efforts on racial and ethnic tension prevention, foreign student and faculty programs, and various climate change and minority support grants.
- The White House has not responded to requests for comment on the legality and implications of these funding cancellations.
