WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has unilaterally cancelled US$4.9 billion in international help authorised by Congress, escalating a constitutional battle over management of presidency spending.
In a letter posted on-line late Thursday (Aug 28), Trump advised Home Speaker Mike Johnson he would withhold funding for 15 worldwide programmes, together with United Nations peacekeeping and democracy-promotion efforts.
The White Home used a tactic often known as a “pocket rescission”, final employed in 1977, which permits funds to be frozen for 45 days, successfully working out the clock till the fiscal yr ends on Sep 30.
FOREIGN AID PROGRAMMES AFFECTED
Court docket filings on Friday confirmed the affected cash had largely been allotted via the US Company for Worldwide Improvement, which Trump has sought to cut back.
“That is going to make our funds state of affairs that rather more difficult, however we are going to observe up with US authorities to get extra particulars,” UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stated.
Democrats accused Trump of freezing greater than US$425 billion in funding general, whereas most Republicans backed the transfer as constant along with his push for steep cuts.
