The White House is moving to block $810 million in congressionally appropriated funds through a controversial budget tactic known as a pocket rescission. This action targets crucial education and health programs, sparking immediate backlash from lawmakers.
Senator Susan Collins has vehemently criticized the move, labeling it an unlawful attempt to undermine Congress’s constitutional power of the purse. The White House’s justification based on the Impoundment Control Act is contested by the Government Accountability Office.
White House Moves to Block $810 Million in Funding, Sparking Congressional Outrage
The White House is employing a controversial budget maneuver known as a pocket rescission to halt $810 million in congressionally appropriated funds, drawing sharp criticism from lawmakers who argue it undermines Congress's constitutional authority.
Key Points
- The White House is blocking $810 million in congressionally appropriated funding through a pocket rescission.
- The disputed budget maneuver prompted pushback from lawmakers like Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.
- The rescissions target education and health programs.
Article Details
The White House has announced its intention to claw back $810 million in funds that were previously approved by Congress. This move, executed through a pocket rescission, has ignited a firestorm of criticism from Capitol Hill, with legislators accusing the administration of overstepping its bounds.
This is not the first time the Trump administration has utilized this controversial tactic. Last year, it blocked $4.9 billion in foreign aid through a similar pocket rescission, a move that marked the first presidential attempt to use such authority in approximately five decades.
A pocket rescission is a budget maneuver where a president submits a request to Congress to block funding very close to the end of the fiscal year. The aim is to have the funds expire before Congress can complete its mandatory 45-day review period, effectively preventing congressional oversight.
While the White House has cited the Impoundment Control Act (ICA) as justification for its authority, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has previously stated that the ICA does not permit the withholding of proposed rescissions through expiration if Congress has not given its explicit approval.
Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, strongly condemned the White House's action. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), she declared, "This is the most recent attempt by this Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to undermine Congress's Constitutional power of the purse." She further emphasized that "The independent Government Accountability Office has concluded that pocket rescissions are unlawful and not permitted by the Impoundment Control Act. Any effort to rescind appropriated funds without congressional approval is a clear violation of the law."
This is the most recent attempt by this Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to undermine Congress's Constitutional power of the purse. The independent Government Accountability Office has concluded that pocket rescissions are unlawful and not permitted by the Impoundment Control Act. Any effort to rescind appropriated funds without congressional approval is a clear violation of the law.
— Sen. Susan Collins (@SenatorCollins) September 16, 2026
Neither the White House nor Senator Collins' office immediately provided further comment when contacted by CNBC.
The specific funds targeted by these rescissions include $567 million allocated for Health and Human Services (HHS) programs supporting refugees, asylees, and other non-citizens, along with an additional $28 million for HHS research initiatives. The Department of Education's special programs for immigrant students are also among the programs facing cuts.
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