President Trump moved Friday to cancel nearly $1 billion in federal spending, employing a rarely used pocket rescission that allows the White House to sidestep congressional approval. The maneuver, which critics call an end-run around the legislature's power of the purse, marks the latest escalation in Trump's push to reshape federal priorities without lawmakers' consent.
The bulk of the cancellations hit Health and Human Services programs that provide services to undocumented immigrants and unaccompanied children in court, along with initiatives under the agency's Minority Health office and the Education Department's Special Programs for Migrant Students. The White House defended the cuts in a press release, claiming the funds had gone to "pro-illegal immigration programs and Non-Governmental Organizations" that served refugees and asylees and placed unaccompanied minors in danger. The statement further asserted that Trump's border policies have stemmed illegal crossings, making the programs unnecessary.
Additional cuts align with the administration's broader anti-DEI campaign. Trump rescinded funding for HHS research on gender-affirming care, minority business development, and the Justice Department's Community Relations Services, which the White House said promoted identity-conscious policing. The administration labeled these programs "wasteful and harmful."
The total package amounts to $810 million, canceled through a pocket rescission—a procedure that occurs when a president asks Congress to cancel funds so close to the end of the fiscal year that they expire before lawmakers can act, according to the Government Accountability Office. The Impoundment Control Act governs the process, permitting the administration to temporarily withhold funds for 45 days while Congress considers the request. If lawmakers reject it, the money must be released.
This is not the first time Trump has used the tactic. In 2025, he unilaterally cut roughly $5 billion in congressionally approved funding, and the Supreme Court allowed the administration to keep the money, which was set to expire the following week. The move drew sharp criticism from lawmakers who argued it usurped legislative authority.
The latest rescission is likely to reignite that debate. Democrats and some Republicans have warned that such maneuvers undermine the separation of powers and set a precedent for future presidents to ignore Congress. The White House, however, shows no sign of backing down, framing the cuts as necessary to align spending with Trump's immigration and anti-DEI agenda.
As the administration continues to test the limits of executive spending authority, the pocket rescission may become a recurring tool. The question now is whether Congress will push back—or whether the practice becomes normalized. For a president who has already demonstrated a willingness to challenge institutional norms, the answer may not come until the funds are already gone.
