Trump cancels nearly $1 billion in spending approved by Congress, a move some lawmakers called illegal
September 25, 2026 / 9:38 PM EDT / CBS News
TL;DR
- President Trump is canceling almost $1 billion in spending previously approved by Congress.
- The White House is using a "pocket rescission," a rarely used tactic where the president notifies Congress of the intent not to spend appropriated funds.
- Funds being canceled include $567 million for refugee and migrant services, $50 million for immigrant aid, $70 million in "Woke International Education" grants, and $56 million in Housing and Urban Development programs.
- Republican Senator Susan Collins criticized the move as an "unlawful cancellation" and a violation of the law, noting the Government Accountability Office has also deemed pocket rescissions illegal.
- Democratic Representative Rosa DeLauro accused the administration of "trying to steal more money promised to communities."
- The Trump administration previously used a pocket rescission to cancel $4.9 billion in foreign aid last year, a move that faced legal challenges.
- The Supreme Court allowed the previous cancellation of foreign aid but did not rule on the merits of pocket rescissions.