President Donald Trump moved to eliminate nearly $1 billion in federal expenditures on Friday by utilizing the contentious “pocket rescission” mechanism, a process that enables the executive to withhold funds without securing approval from Congress.
The majority of the targeted cuts were directed toward programs administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). These initiatives primarily support undocumented immigrants and unaccompanied children appearing in immigration court.
Additional funds slashed under this action include similar programs operating under the agency’s Minority Health office, marking a significant escalation in executive maneuvers to redirect or eliminate spending without traditional legislative oversight.
Pocket rescissions seem like a constitutional hack. Congress holds the purse strings, not the White House.
This bypass of Congress is deeply concerning. Why can the president unilaterally cut $1B without legislative oversight?