Supreme Court Halts $4 Billion Foreign Aid Spending by Trump Admin

The Supreme Court has temporarily suspended a lower court"s ruling that required the Trump administration to allocate over $4 billion for foreign aid by the end of September. This decision, issued on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, grants the court more time to evaluate the administration"s request to freeze these funds.

The funds in question are earmarked for various foreign aid programs, UN peacekeeping operations, and democracy support initiatives. Congress allocated approximately $11 billion last year for such purposes, with the stipulation that any unspent funds must be reserved or spent by September 30, the conclusion of the current fiscal year.

In its bid to minimize foreign aid expenditures, the Trump administration had indicated plans to utilize $6.5 billion from the contested funds. However, it attempted to withhold the remaining $4 billion through a "pocket veto," a rare procedural move that sidesteps Congress. The lower court ruled against this approach, asserting that the administration cannot unilaterally decide to withhold appropriated funds.

This Supreme Court stay raises significant questions about the future of U.S. foreign aid and the administration"s authority in budgetary matters. Observers are closely monitoring the situation as the September 30 deadline approaches, with implications for international aid programs hanging in the balance. For more on related coverage, see our article on recent developments regarding Trump"s foreign policy maneuvers.