Trump Uses Disputed Pocket Rescission To Cancel Nearly $1 Billion In Approved Spending
President Trump on Friday, September 25, 2026, used a pocket rescission to cancel nearly $1 billion in congressionally approved spending, a move the White House said reclaims funds and critics called illegal.[1]
The administration later refined the total to $810 million in canceled funding.[2] About $567 million targets Health and Human Services grants to nongovernmental groups serving refugees, asylees and other noncitizens, while $25 million would cut migrant education and $70 million would end so-called "Woke International Education" grants.[2] Other affected awards include a Justice Department office focused on reducing racial tensions, a minority-entrepreneur business initiative, and some Housing and Urban Development counseling services.[2]
The White House framed some grantees as led by Obama administration alumni and described certain grants as ideologically driven.[1] The White House sent the rescission package with only five days left in the fiscal year and while the House was out of session.[1] That timing prevented Congress's 45-day review period from running, and the Government Accountability Office has concluded such "pocket rescissions" are unlawful.[2] Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought countered that the statute does not explicitly bar submitting rescissions at the end of a fiscal year.[2] Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins called the action an illegal impoundment that came without warning and vowed to work with colleagues to address "these illegal actions." PBS
Show source details & analysis (3 sources)
📌 Key Facts
- The White House announced on Friday, September 25, 2026, that President Trump will cancel nearly $1 billion in congressionally approved spending using a pocket rescission (pocket rescission).
- Fox News reported the administration’s rescission refines that total to $810 million in canceled funding (Fox News).
- About $567 million of the rescissions target Health and Human Services grants to nongovernmental organizations serving refugees, asylees and other noncitizens, with additional cuts including $25 million for migrant education and $70 million labeled 'Woke International Education' (Health and Human Services grants).
- Other affected awards include a Justice Department office focused on reducing racial tensions, a minority-entrepreneur business development initiative, certain Housing and Urban Development counseling services, and additional HHS grants the administration calls 'outright harmful and blatantly ideological' (Justice Department office).
- A White House press release framed some of the affected grantees as being led by alumni of the Obama administration and described certain grants as ideologically driven (White House press release).
- The Government Accountability Office has concluded that 'pocket rescissions' are unlawful under the Impoundment Control Act, while OMB Director Russ Vought says the statute does not explicitly forbid submitting rescissions near the end of a fiscal year (Government Accountability Office).
- Sen. Susan Collins, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, called the move an illegal impoundment that came without warning or consultation and vowed to work with colleagues to address 'these illegal actions' (Sen. Susan Collins).
- By submitting the rescission package with only five days left in the fiscal year (near September 30, 2026) and with the House out of session until after the November elections, the administration effectively prevented the 45-day congressional review period from running, fitting the GAO’s definition of an unlawful 'pocket rescission' (45-day congressional review period).
- Trump previously used a similar pocket rescission in 2025 to block $4.9 billion in foreign aid; the Supreme Court declined to block that package on presidential foreign‑affairs grounds, whereas this year's rescission is focused on domestic spending (pocket rescission in 2025).
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- On Friday, September 25, 2026, the White House announced President Trump will cancel nearly $1 billion in congressionally approved spending using a pocket rescission.
- The new PBS/AP report specifies that most cuts target Health and Human Services programs for refugees and unaccompanied minors accused of being in the country illegally, along with migrant education, a DOJ office focused on reducing racial tensions, a minority-entrepreneur business initiative, HUD housing counseling, and other HHS grants described by the administration as "outright harmful and blatantly ideological."
- The article notes a White House press release framed some of the affected grantees as being led by alumni of the Obama administration.
- Senate Appropriations Committee chair Susan Collins said the move came without warning or consultation, labeled it an illegal impoundment and a usurpation of Congress's appropriations power, and vowed to work with colleagues to address what she called "these illegal actions."
- The piece explains that by sending the rescission package with only five days left in the fiscal year and with the House out until after the November elections, the administration has effectively prevented the 45-day congressional review period from running, fitting GAO’s definition of an unlawful "pocket rescission."
- The story adds historical context that Trump used a similar pocket rescission in 2025 to block $4.9 billion in foreign aid and that the Supreme Court declined to block that package, citing presidential foreign-affairs authority, whereas this year’s pocket rescission is focused on domestic spending.
- The Fox News article, published Saturday, September 26, 2026, states the Trump administration is canceling $810 million in congressionally approved spending, refining earlier estimates that rounded the figure to nearly $1 billion.
- It details that about $567 million in rescissions target Health and Human Services programs funding nongovernmental organizations that support refugees, asylees and other noncitizens.
- The article specifies an additional $25 million in cuts to migrant education programs and $70 million labeled by the White House as 'Woke International Education' grants supporting foreign students and faculty and some doctoral work on queer and trans community building abroad.
- Fox lists other affected programs, including a Justice Department office focused on reducing racial tensions, a minority-entrepreneur business development initiative, certain Housing and Urban Development counseling services, and HHS grants the administration characterizes as 'outright harmful and blatantly ideological.'
- Sen. Susan Collins is quoted calling the move 'the most recent attempt' by the Office of Management and Budget to undermine Congress's constitutional power of the purse and pledging to work with colleagues to address what she labels 'illegal actions.'
- The article underscores that the White House submitted the rescission proposals near the September 30, 2026 fiscal year end, which Collins argues is designed so that Congress's 45-day review period under the Impoundment Control Act cannot run before the money expires, especially with the House out of session until after the November election.
- Fox repeats that the Government Accountability Office has concluded pocket rescissions are unlawful under the Impoundment Control Act, while OMB Director Russ Vought maintains the statute does not explicitly forbid rescissions near the end of a fiscal year.