U.S. President Donald Trump has moved to cut about $4.9 billion (approximately 6.8 trillion won) in international foreign aid budget approved by Congress.
He decided to use a workaround that would allow the budget to automatically expire ahead of the end of the fiscal year on the 30th of next month without following the approval of Congress, which holds the budget authority.
The White House said on the 29th (local time) that 'President Trump will implement a pocket rescission to cancel $5 billion in foreign aid and international organization funding that contradicts his priority of 'America First,' using the authority under the Impoundment Control Act for the first time in 50 years.'
The cuts include $3.2 billion in development aid from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), $320 million from USAID and the State Department for democracy promotion funds, and $521 million in contributions to international organizations from the State Department.
The administration needs Congressional approval to not use certain funds. However, President Trump plans to push for cuts to the foreign aid budget by bypassing Congress through the use of pocket rescissions instead of formal procedures.
A pocket rescission is a system that allows the president to suspend budget execution for up to 45 days. If Congress does not pass the law again within this period, the funds will automatically expire on the end date of the fiscal year (September 30). This measure effectively nullifies the budget without the consent of Congress.
According to Reuters, President Trump sent a letter to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson on the 28th, revealing his plan to withhold funding for 15 international programs.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer claimed that President Trump has shown his willingness to nullify any budget expenditure plan passed by Congress, asserting that this is an attempt to induce a shutdown at the end of September.
UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric expressed concern at a press conference, stating, 'This measure will make our budget situation and liquidity situation much more difficult.'