Former President Donald Trump has blocked $4.9 billion in foreign aid approved by Congress, employing a rarely used tactic known as "pocket rescission." This maneuver has not been utilized in nearly 50 years, marking a significant political move.
In a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, Trump urged that funds allocated for State Department and USAID programs should not be disbursed. The Republican-controlled Congress now has 45 days to respond, although the current fiscal year ends on September 30. If Congress does not act, the funds will remain unspent.
The blocked aid includes $3.2 billion for development grants, $520 million for the United Nations, $838 million for international peacekeeping operations, and $322 million aimed at promoting democratic values abroad. This decision has led to significant implications for various international programs.
Amidst these developments, Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that USAID is now "officially in shutdown mode." The ramifications of this funding freeze could affect numerous global initiatives, as previously reported in recent developments involving foreign policy and aid distribution.
