Trump adminration asks US Supreme Court to let it freeze billions in foreign aid | World News
President Donald Trump’s adminration has asked the US Supreme Court to allow it to halt billions of dollars in foreign aid approved Congress, the Washington Post reported on Monday.
The emergency request came after a federal appeals court on Friday refused to block a lower court ruling that said the adminration could not withhold the funds. The ruling requires the government to move quickly to spend about $11 billion on aid projects before the congressional authorisation runs out in September.
Trump ordered a 90-day pause on all foreign aid on 20 January, the day he began his second term. His executive order was followed steps to scale back the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which dributes much of the funding.
Story continues below this ad
The case was brought aid groups that had expected to apply for grants this year. The adminration has said it intends to spend $6.5 billion of the money but wants to withhold $4 billion that had been allocated to USAID.
US Drict Judge Amir Ali ruled that the government “cannot simply choose not to spend the money” and must follow appropriations laws unless Congress changes them. His order, if upheld, would limit the president’s ability to cancel aid without congressional approval.
While the court case continues, Trump has also tried to block the disputed $4 billion through a “pocket rescission,” a procedure that passes Congress, Reuters reported.
