Lawmakers slam Trump’s ‘unlawful’ move to cut $810 million in federal funds

The administration is using a tactic called a pocket rescission, which sends the money back to Congress rather than spending it. The Trump administration has used this move before to block congressionally allocated spending. This round of cuts hits programs and agencies that serve immigrants, minority groups, and Department of Health and Human Services research efforts.

Lawmakers are calling the move unlawful. Congress typically gets 45 days to accept or reject a White House funding decision, and critics argue the administration is sidestepping that process entirely. The pushback is notable because it crosses party lines, a rare moment of shared frustration over how the executive branch is handling money Congress already signed off on.

For the agencies and programs on the list, the impact is immediate. Research initiatives tied to Department of Health and Human Services work lose funding they were counting on. Programs built to serve immigrants and minority communities face the same uncertainty, with no guarantee the money comes back even after Congress weighs in.

The bigger question hanging over all of it: if a president can claw back money Congress already approved just by running out the clock, what does congressional funding authority even mean anymore.