Overview

• The ruling authorizes the president to hold back $4 billion that Congress had appropriated for foreign aid programs.
• The decision was issued over the dissent of the three liberal justices.
• The court effectively approved the pocket rescission tactic of withholding funds at the fiscal year’s end so they cannot be spent without congressional agreement.
• The approach avoids the standard rescission procedure, which requires a formal request followed by a 45-day window for Congress to act.
• The timing threatens to complicate last-minute talks to prevent a Sept. 30 government shutdown by raising doubts about whether appropriated funds will be spent.