Trump moves to withhold $800 million in funds

Trump moves to withhold $800 million in funds

US President Donald Trump has moved to block more than $800 million in federal spending approved by Congress for programs related to immigration, racial minorities, education and environmental conservation.

The move marks another escalation in the ongoing dispute between the Trump administration and Congress over control of federal spending.

The White House said Trump intends to use every available tool to reduce what it described as wasteful or harmful government expenditure that does not serve the interests of American citizens.

The administration targeted several programs, including refugee assistance, support for minority-owned businesses and overseas conservation initiatives. The White House argued that some of these programs encourage illegal immigration, increase racial tensions or promote what it considers alarmist environmental policies.

However, Congress holds constitutional authority over federal spending. The administration is using a rarely invoked mechanism known as a “pocket rescission” to prevent the funds from being spent without seeking fresh approval from lawmakers.

Senator Susan Collins, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, criticised the move and called it unlawful. She said the administration’s action represented another attempt to weaken Congress’s constitutional control over federal funds.

Collins, a Republican from Maine, argued that the executive branch cannot cancel spending approved by Congress without legislative approval.

The latest move follows a similar dispute over foreign aid. The US Supreme Court last year declined to stop Trump from using the same mechanism to withhold $4.9 billion in foreign assistance approved by Congress, while legal challenges over the administration’s authority continued.