Supreme Court Allows Trump Administration to Withhold $5–6 Billion Foreign Aid Amid Legal Disputes

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the Trump administration, allowing it to continue withholding approximately $5 billion in foreign aid funding that was congressionally appropriated. This decision overturned a lower court order that had compelled the administration to obligate the funds, including about $4 billion that Trump requested Congress to rescind through a pocket rescission—the first such use in 50 years. The ruling, decided 6 to 3, supports the executive branch's authority over government spending on foreign aid, a significant point of contention between the administration and Congress. Critics, including dissenting justices, argue the move prevents funds from reaching their intended recipients and deem the budgetary maneuver illegal. The funds remain blocked pending further legal proceedings, with the Supreme Court noting this is not a final decision. This ongoing legal challenge highlights a broader dispute over executive power and congressional control of government spending.