Overview

• The White House budget office asked Congress to cancel roughly $4.9–$5 billion from State Department and USAID accounts, including $445 million tied to peacekeeping operations.
• With fewer than 45 days left in the fiscal year, the rescission hold could allow the funds to lapse on Sept. 30 without a congressional vote under the pocket rescission tactic.
• Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a senior Republican appropriator, called the move unlawful and said it undermines Congress’s constitutional power of the purse.
• Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins previously labeled the maneuver illegal and urged any cuts to be handled through the regular bipartisan appropriations process.
• OMB defended the proposal as targeting wasteful projects and labeled one account a slush fund, while Senate Democrats warned they may withhold votes to keep the government open in response.