Trump Notifies Congress of Plan to Rescind Billions in Foreign Aid
Boxes of antiretroviral drugs in a medical stockroom, the last donation before USAID funding cuts, in Kisumu, Kenya on April 24.
Photographer: Michel Lunanga/Getty ImagesPresident Donald Trump asked Congress to claw back nearly $5 billion in already-approved foreign aid spending, a proposal timed to take advantage of the looming end of the fiscal year and allowing him to cut the funding himself if lawmakers fail to act by the close of September.
The maneuver challenges Congress’ spending powers and intensifies an already contentious battle over government funding, which is due to lapse Sept. 30. Democrats are sure to seek guarantees Trump will actually spend money lawmakers appropriate in exchange for their votes to keep the government open.