Senator Collins Calls Trump’s $5B Foreign Aid Cut Unlawful

Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has accused President Donald Trump of unlawfully attempting to cancel nearly $5 billion in congressionally-approved foreign aid through a tactic called a "pocket rescission." This method, which has not been used in nearly 50 years, seeks to rescind funds by sending the request close to the fiscal year’s end, leaving Congress insufficient time to reject the proposal before the funding expires. Collins and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) have stated that such a move violates the Impoundment Control Act and the constitutional power of the purse reserved for Congress, making it a clear violation of the law. The Trump administration argues that it is exercising authority under the Impoundment Control Act to stop what it calls "woke and weaponized foreign aid money," citing precedent from previous presidents. Collins emphasized that any spending cuts should occur through the bipartisan appropriations process, and warned that the administration’s tactics undermine congressional authority and complicate budget negotiations. This ongoing conflict highlights tensions over budget control and raises concerns about the legality and precedent of executive actions to override congressional appropriations.