- Supreme Court suspends lower court order, letting Trump withhold $4 billion in aid.
- Administration cites “America First” agenda and foreign-policy conflicts.
- Critics warn of a constitutional clash over Congress’s spending authority.
GG News Bureau
Washington, 27th Sept: The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday cleared the way for President Donald Trump to block roughly $4 billion in foreign aid that Congress had already approved, handing the administration another win in its “America First” policy drive.
In a brief order, the justices set aside a ruling by Washington-based District Judge Amir Ali, who earlier this month directed the White House to release the funds. Aid groups had sued, arguing that the president has no authority to withhold money Congress specifically appropriated for foreign assistance, U.N. peacekeeping, and democracy-promotion programs in the 2025 fiscal year.
The Trump administration invoked an unusual “pocket rescission” tactic, claiming the spending conflicted with U.S. foreign policy. Justice Department lawyers said forcing the government to release the money posed “a grave and urgent threat to the separation of powers,” while Trump budget director Russell Vought maintained the president can delay funds for 45 days—long enough to run out the fiscal year, which ends September 30.
Critics called the maneuver unprecedented, warning it gives the president “unchecked power to rescind funds” and undermines Congress’s constitutional power of the purse. The Supreme Court, which has a 6–3 conservative majority, has repeatedly backed Trump since his return to the presidency in January.
The disputed $4 billion is part of a larger $11 billion foreign-aid allocation Congress approved last year.
Comments are closed.