Democracy is disappearing right before our eyes.

[berg80]

Defying Congress, Trump Moves to Cut $4.9 Billion in Foreign Aid​

The White House has informed Congress it intends to cancel $4.9 billion that lawmakers approved for foreign aid programs, invoking a little-known and legally untested power to slash spending without their approval.

The 15-page notification, sent to Congress on Thursday night and reviewed by The New York Times, is the administration’s first effort to push through what is known as a “pocket rescission.” It is an effort to unilaterally claw back money that has already been appropriated by waiting so late in the fiscal year to make the request that lawmakers do not have time to reject it before the funding expires.

The fiscal year ends on Sept. 30, before the 45-day period in which Congress is required to consider a rescission request from the White House. Republicans could bring the matter to a vote sooner, but party leaders have shown little appetite for resisting the president’s spending demands and asserting their own prerogatives.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/29/us/politics/trump-foreign-aid.html

If supporters of all things Don weren't for this before they sure as shootin' are for it now. Usurping congressional authority on spending by means of a novel, dubiously legal gambit? It goes without saying, not a problem.

Diminishing our influence in the world, leaving a vacuum for countries like China to fill. Remember when Nixon said, ""Well, when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal." Ditto for Don for trump devotees.

But hey........

 

[EvilCat Breath]

He DID!

Now that's what I voted for.

 

[Kondor3]

OP links to a pay-site (NY Times) (Ultra-Liberal spin on things)...

A better link might be...

Trump blocks $4.9B in foreign aid Congress OK'd, using maneuver last seen nearly 50 years ago

From the AP... not quite as TDS-crippled as the NYT...

Trump has used a loophole that hasn't been used since Jimmy Carter (D)(Ga) used it a half-century ago...

Basically, he's telling Congress that he wants to impound those funds, and, given how close we are to the end of the Federal fiscal year, it seems highly unlikely that Congress is going to attempt to claw-back and SPEND those funds prior to October 1st...

And, on October 1st, the funds become "Unspent" once again, and can remain in the Treasury...
Here's a quick excerpt from the article...

What’s in the funding? The funds in the pocket rescission package include $3.2 billion in development assistance grants, $520 million for the United Nations, $838 million for international peacekeeping operations and $322 million to encourage democratic values in other countries.

And, it was going to be funneled through the soon-to-be-shuttered USAID agency...

A few billion dollars, by the look of it...

I would think that we can do without contributing to some of those things for a while...

The US (and US taxpayers) get bilked often enough for such things...

And, personally speaking, even though I see some merit in the idea of well-placed and well-timed Soft Power (money) spent on the outside, we've gone overboard so often and for so long and gotten so little thanks or benefit from our cash outlays...

Perhaps the time has come to "stand down" from such contributions for a year or season or two and let the Chinese and Indians and the Euros and the Arabs step-up for once to fill the void...

We can always re-engage later if we want to, once our own pocketbook cools off, and we devise ways to ensure that our own use of Soft Power is money well-spent and not flippantly scattered about...

 

[Mac1958]

Diminishing our influence in the world, leaving a vacuum for countries like China to fill.

They've been convinced that we don't need anyone, and that anything we need can be produced here. Somehow. We also don't need global trade, overseas security intelligence, or allies/friends of any kind. They all just take advantage of us because they're really mean.

So I guess it's okay that China takes our place on the world stage. And they're already making inroads.

Their response to anything that is questioning anything in any way is some form of "I don't care".

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Defying Congress, Trump Moves to Cut $4.9 Billion in Foreign Aid​

The White House has informed Congress it intends to cancel $4.9 billion that lawmakers approved for foreign aid programs, invoking a little-known and legally untested power to slash spending without their approval.

The 15-page notification, sent to Congress on Thursday night and reviewed by The New York Times, is the administration’s first effort to push through what is known as a “pocket rescission.” It is an effort to unilaterally claw back money that has already been appropriated by waiting so late in the fiscal year to make the request that lawmakers do not have time to reject it before the funding expires.

The fiscal year ends on Sept. 30, before the 45-day period in which Congress is required to consider a rescission request from the White House. Republicans could bring the matter to a vote sooner, but party leaders have shown little appetite for resisting the president’s spending demands and asserting their own prerogatives.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/29/us/politics/trump-foreign-aid.html

If supporters of all things Don weren't for this before they sure as shootin' are for it now. Usurping congressional authority on spending by means of a novel, dubiously legal gambit? It goes without saying, not a problem.

Diminishing our influence in the world, leaving a vacuum for countries like China to fill. Remember when Nixon said, ""Well, when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal." Ditto for Don for trump devotees.

But hey........

Make the Budget Impoundment Act of 1974 unconstitutional again!

 

[excalibur]

Actually, he has the power to do this.

​

Section 1012 of the ICA allows the president to transmit a special message to Congress, asking for certain funds to be rescinded—in other words, clawed back by Congress and no longer available for obligation. The Section 1012 rescissions process is special for two reasons: First, it is a presidentially initiated process. And second, a bill considering the rescissions is privileged in the Senate. In other words, it is filibuster proof and can pass with only a simple majority instead of 60 votes.​

​

​

The law stipulates that, for up to 45 days after the president submits the special message, the president is legally allowed to pause further obligation of those funds.​

​

​

What Is a Pocket Rescission?

Understanding President Donald Trump and Russ Vought’s new plan to illegally stop spending.

www.americanprogress.org

 

[Rawley]

Defying Congress, Trump Moves to Cut $4.9 Billion in Foreign Aid​

The White House has informed Congress it intends to cancel $4.9 billion that lawmakers approved for foreign aid programs, invoking a little-known and legally untested power to slash spending without their approval.

The 15-page notification, sent to Congress on Thursday night and reviewed by The New York Times, is the administration’s first effort to push through what is known as a “pocket rescission.” It is an effort to unilaterally claw back money that has already been appropriated by waiting so late in the fiscal year to make the request that lawmakers do not have time to reject it before the funding expires.

The fiscal year ends on Sept. 30, before the 45-day period in which Congress is required to consider a rescission request from the White House. Republicans could bring the matter to a vote sooner, but party leaders have shown little appetite for resisting the president’s spending demands and asserting their own prerogatives.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/29/us/politics/trump-foreign-aid.html

If supporters of all things Don weren't for this before they sure as shootin' are for it now. Usurping congressional authority on spending by means of a novel, dubiously legal gambit? It goes without saying, not a problem.

Diminishing our influence in the world, leaving a vacuum for countries like China to fill. Remember when Nixon said, ""Well, when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal." Ditto for Don for trump devotees.

But hey........

If it means the Federal Gvt spending less money, I'm all for it.

 

[Thinker101]

Defying Congress, Trump Moves to Cut $4.9 Billion in Foreign Aid​

The White House has informed Congress it intends to cancel $4.9 billion that lawmakers approved for foreign aid programs, invoking a little-known and legally untested power to slash spending without their approval.

The 15-page notification, sent to Congress on Thursday night and reviewed by The New York Times, is the administration’s first effort to push through what is known as a “pocket rescission.” It is an effort to unilaterally claw back money that has already been appropriated by waiting so late in the fiscal year to make the request that lawmakers do not have time to reject it before the funding expires.

The fiscal year ends on Sept. 30, before the 45-day period in which Congress is required to consider a rescission request from the White House. Republicans could bring the matter to a vote sooner, but party leaders have shown little appetite for resisting the president’s spending demands and asserting their own prerogatives.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/29/us/politics/trump-foreign-aid.html

If supporters of all things Don weren't for this before they sure as shootin' are for it now. Usurping congressional authority on spending by means of a novel, dubiously legal gambit? It goes without saying, not a problem.

Diminishing our influence in the world, leaving a vacuum for countries like China to fill. Remember when Nixon said, ""Well, when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal." Ditto for Don for trump devotees.

But hey........

Hopefully the "Democrat version" of democracy is disappearing.

 

[Independent thinker]

Defying Congress, Trump Moves to Cut $4.9 Billion in Foreign Aid​

The White House has informed Congress it intends to cancel $4.9 billion that lawmakers approved for foreign aid programs, invoking a little-known and legally untested power to slash spending without their approval.

The 15-page notification, sent to Congress on Thursday night and reviewed by The New York Times, is the administration’s first effort to push through what is known as a “pocket rescission.” It is an effort to unilaterally claw back money that has already been appropriated by waiting so late in the fiscal year to make the request that lawmakers do not have time to reject it before the funding expires.

The fiscal year ends on Sept. 30, before the 45-day period in which Congress is required to consider a rescission request from the White House. Republicans could bring the matter to a vote sooner, but party leaders have shown little appetite for resisting the president’s spending demands and asserting their own prerogatives.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/29/us/politics/trump-foreign-aid.html

If supporters of all things Don weren't for this before they sure as shootin' are for it now. Usurping congressional authority on spending by means of a novel, dubiously legal gambit? It goes without saying, not a problem.

Diminishing our influence in the world, leaving a vacuum for countries like China to fill. Remember when Nixon said, ""Well, when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal." Ditto for Don for trump devotees.

But hey........

It was but after the last election I now have hope for the future.

 

[Oddball]

Democracy is disappearing right before our eyes.​

 

[berg80]

They've been convinced that we don't need anyone, and that anything we need can be produced here. Somehow. We also don't need global trade, overseas security intelligence, or allies/friends of any kind. They all just take advantage of us because they're really mean.

So I guess it's okay that China takes our place on the world stage. And they're already making inroads.

Their response to anything that is questioning anything in any way is some form of "I don't care".

A person has to be a conman of enormous skills to convince millions of people that as a failed businessman who doesn't read, believes he knows more about everything than experts in their field, is emotionally stunted, and makes mistake after mistake after mistake........never admitting to any of them.........he is qualified and capable to unilaterally make decisions literally affecting all aspects of American life from what universities teach, to what we see in museums, to how to run a city, to how to run an election, to who should run a company, to who law firms can defend..................

When in truth he's the last person who should be in charge of anything requiring knowledge, tolerance, patience, a willingness for compromise, a collaborative spirit, and a recognition his image of himself is a deluded fantasy.

 

[Dorian Mode]

Just to remind all the neo-leftists here, MAGA stands for Make AMERICA Great again, not spend American taxpayer money on foreign countries so the corrupt democraps can get kickbacks from it. Your money squandering operations are being eliminated, hopefully permanently.

 

[22lcidw]

They've been convinced that we don't need anyone, and that anything we need can be produced here. Somehow. We also don't need global trade, overseas security intelligence, or allies/friends of any kind. They all just take advantage of us because they're really mean.

So I guess it's okay that China takes our place on the world stage. And they're already making inroads.

Their response to anything that is questioning anything in any way is some form of "I don't care".

This while you purchase your Chinese made products that is made rather cheaply compared to American standards.

 

[Mac1958]

A person has to be a conman of enormous skills to convince millions of people that as a failed businessman who doesn't read, believes he knows more about everything than experts in their field, is emotionally stunted, and makes mistake after mistake after mistake........never admitting to any of them.........he is qualified and capable to unilaterally make decisions literally affecting all aspects of American life from what universities teach, to what we see in museums, to how to run a city, to how to run an election, to who should run a company, to who law firms can defend..................

When in truth he's the last person who should be in charge of anything requiring knowledge, tolerance, patience, a willingness for compromise, a collaborative spirit, and a recognition his image of himself is a deluded fantasy.

It's just an ugly, perfectly-timed match between a desperate segment of a population and the right con man. People aren't going to accept incredible flaws like this unless they're willing to delude themselves. How did such a large part of our population become this hopeless?

I think about that dynamic far more than I think about any of the politics of this.

 

[Oddball]

They've been convinced that we don't need anyone, and that anything we need can be produced here. Somehow. We also don't need global trade, overseas security intelligence, or allies/friends of any kind. They all just take advantage of us because they're really mean.

So I guess it's okay that China takes our place on the world stage. And they're already making inroads.

Their response to anything that is questioning anything in any way is some form of "I don't care".

An entire regiment!

 

[luiza]

A person has to be a conman of enormous skills to convince millions of people that as a failed businessman who doesn't read, believes he knows more about everything than experts in their field, is emotionally stunted, and makes mistake after mistake after mistake........never admitting to any of them.........he is qualified and capable to unilaterally make decisions literally affecting all aspects of American life from what universities teach, to what we see in museums, to how to run a city, to how to run an election, to who should run a company, to who law firms can defend..................

When in truth he's the last person who should be in charge of anything requiring knowledge, tolerance, patience, a willingness for compromise, a collaborative spirit, and a recognition his image of himself is a deluded fantasy.

Bugger you are 86 and slowly losing contact with the real world .
Find yourself a hobby or something which might do good for the less fortunate .

You are beginning to make someone like Turdy Tommy Tithead sound interesting .

 

[Donald H]

Diminishing our influence in the world, leaving a vacuum for countries like China to fill.

This is one of the ways fascism works at bringing short term gifts or satisfaction to those why will stoop to supporting it.

But all that starts to wear thin and the chickens start to come home.

But then its too late to stop it.

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

He DID!

Now that's what I voted for.

The fault lies obviously with those so stupid, frightened, and willfully ignorant as to vote for Trump – they’re ultimately responsible for the end of American democracy.

The people are solely responsible for the bad government they get – and Trump is the worst.

 

[Toddsterpatriot]

They've been convinced that we don't need anyone, and that anything we need can be produced here. Somehow. We also don't need global trade, overseas security intelligence, or allies/friends of any kind. They all just take advantage of us because they're really mean.

So I guess it's okay that China takes our place on the world stage. And they're already making inroads.

Their response to anything that is questioning anything in any way is some form of "I don't care".

So I guess it's okay that China takes our place on the world stage. And they're already making inroads.

Oh no!
China is going to waste money?
We're doomed!

 

[toobfreak]

Democracy is disappearing right before our eyes.​

You are about 10 months too late as usual. What is disappearing right before your eyes are DEMOCRATS, not democracy.

Democracy is on the rise again.

But I understand how much it must suck turning on the TV everyday seeing your president sitting in the Oval Office wearing a red MAGA hat that states the obvious that Trump was right about everything, especially when he was.

And to know that YOU caused it by voting for this POS loser as the best choice your party had after the senile bed-wetter.