Via #RawStory @ 2:31pm ET on Oct 13, 2025

In a move reshaping #Washington’s #BalanceOfPower, President Donald #Trump has weaponized an obscure budget tool, using the so-called “#PocketRescission” to claw back billions approved by #Congress and sideline lawmakers from decisions over federal spending. Even some #Republicans have warned that Trump’s campaign to consolidate control of the nation’s purse strings could leave Congress permanently weakened.

https://www.rawstory.com/congress-budget/

The U.S. Supreme Court’s Republican appointees on Friday issued an order
allowing President Donald Trump to unilaterally hold back $4 billion in foreign aid funding
— overturning the decision of Congress that was previously signed into law.

It was a ruling that required a willful disregard for some of the most fundamental understandings of America’s federal government
— and prompted a sharp dissent from the Democratic appointees.

The shadow docket ruling addressed $4 billion in funds that Trump has asked Congress to rescind under a provision in another law, the Impoundment Control Act.

Congress has not acted on that, however,
meaning the administration is still obligated to spend the money.

The unsigned order from the Supreme Court on Friday nonetheless
blocked a lower court’s order that would have required the Trump administration to spend the money by September 30, when that funding expires.

As Justice Elena Kagan wrote in dissent for her and Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson,

“The effect is to prevent the funds from reaching their intended recipients—not just now
but (because of their impending expiration) for all time.“

#pocketrescission

https://www.lawdork.com/p/scotus-impoundment-is-ok-when-trump-does-it

The U.S. Supreme Court’s Republican appointees on Friday issued an order
allowing President Donald Trump to unilaterally hold back $4 billion in foreign aid funding
— overturning the decision of Congress that was previously signed into law.

It was a ruling that required a willful disregard for some of the most fundamental understandings of America’s federal government
— and prompted a sharp dissent from the Democratic appointees.

The shadow docket ruling addressed $4 billion in funds that Trump has asked Congress to rescind under a provision in another law, the Impoundment Control Act.

Congress has not acted on that, however,
meaning the administration is still obligated to spend the money.

The unsigned order from the Supreme Court on Friday nonetheless
blocked a lower court’s order that would have required the Trump administration to spend the money by September 30, when that funding expires.

As Justice Elena Kagan wrote in dissent for her and Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson,

“The effect is to prevent the funds from reaching their intended recipients—not just now
but (because of their impending expiration) for all time.“

#pocketrescission

https://www.lawdork.com/p/scotus-impoundment-is-ok-when-trump-does-it

Good explanation of legal maneuvers to not spend $ as allocated by #Congress -

John Roberts allows Trump to withhold #oreignaid funds approved by Congress — for now https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/09/09/congress/john-roberts-foreign-aid-funding-supreme-court-decision-00553743

#ImpoundmentControlAct #pocketrescission #budgetcycle #weaponizedincompetence?