"On Tuesday, Chief Justice John Roberts rewarded the Trump administration's lawless revocation of $4 billion in foreign aid by freezing a lower court order that had required the government to distribute the money. Roberts' intervention is an ominous indication that the full court may soon greenlight the president's "pocket rescission" of funds expressly appropriated by Congress. This decision would hand Donald Trump a sweeping spending power that the Constitution does not assign to him"
"The Constitution allows Congress to appropriate public funds and directs the president to "faithfully execute" its commands. In March 2024, Congress appropriated more than $30 billion in foreign aid to be spent throughout the fiscal year. When Trump came into office, he ordered the State Department to halt disbursement of these funds. Many beneficiaries sued, and in March, the Supreme Court required the government to pay out money for work already completed."
Chief Justice Roberts froze a lower-court order that had required distribution of $4 billion in foreign aid. The intervention signals the Supreme Court may soon approve a presidential "pocket rescission" of funds appropriated by Congress. Such approval would grant the president spending authority beyond the Constitution and impede democratic, environmental, and humanitarian foreign projects. Congress appropriated more than $30 billion in foreign aid in March 2024 for use throughout the fiscal year. The administration halted disbursement upon taking office; beneficiaries sued and the Court ordered payment for work already completed. The government continues to withhold roughly $4 billion despite some rescissions by Congress.
Read at Slate Magazine
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