President Donald Trump has opted not to spend $4.9 billion in approved foreign aid, employing a tactic known as “pocket recission” for the first time in 50 years. This approach involves submitting a request to Congress towards the end of the fiscal year to withhold approved funds, ensuring that Congress cannot act on the request within the 45-day timeframe, resulting in unspent funds. The fiscal year concludes at the end of September.
The Trump administration justifies this move by asserting that it is a legally permissible strategy. However, if widely adopted by the White House, it could potentially sidestep Congress on crucial spending decisions and potentially shift some control over spending from the legislative branch to the executive branch.