"The crux of the legal fight is over nearly $5 billion in congressionally approved aid that President Donald Trump last month said he would not spend, invoking disputed authority that was last used by a president roughly 50 years ago. Last week, U.S. District Judge Amir Ali ruled that the Republican administration's decision to withhold the funding was likely illegal."
"He used what's known as a pocket rescission. That's when a president submits a request to Congress toward the end of a current budget year to not spend the approved money. The late notice means Congress cannot act on the request in the required 45-day window and the money goes unspent. Ali said Congress would have to approve the rescission proposal for the Trump administration to withhold the money."
"The Trump administration has made deep reductions to foreign aid one of its hallmark policies, despite the relatively meager savings relative to the deficit and possible damage to America's reputation abroad as foreign populations lose access to food supplies and development programs. The administration turned to the high court after a panel of federal appellate judges declined to block Ali's ruling."
The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court for an emergency order to keep nearly $5 billion in congressionally approved foreign aid frozen after President Trump said he would not spend the funds. The president invoked a pocket rescission, a late-year request to Congress that prevents the required 45-day review and results in unspent funds. U.S. District Judge Amir Ali ruled the withholding likely illegal, stating Congress must approve any rescission. The administration appealed after an appellate panel declined to block the decision and Solicitor General D. John Sauer called the injunction unlawful. Nonprofit groups that sued are defending the judge's ruling.
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