Constitutional LawGovernmentLegislative Process
July 18, 2025Congress grants Trump power to claw back $9 billion in spending
Congress grants president unilateral spending cuts authority
House agreed to Senate-amended Rescissions Act of 2025 by 216-213 vote on July 18, 2025
The act authorizes President Trump to rescind $7.9 billion in foreign aid and $1.1 billion from Corporation for Public Broadcasting
This marks the first presidential rescission package Congress approved since fiscal year 1999 under Bill Clinton
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries led opposition with all Democrats plus two moderate Republicans voting no
Republicans Brian Fitzpatrick and Michael R. Turner joined Democrats but fell short of blocking the measure
The bill grants executive branch authority to unilaterally claw back previously authorized funding
Under Impoundment Control Act, presidents have 45-day windows to propose abrupt cuts to any programs
Related Topics
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Speaker Johnson delivers narrow 216-213 rescission victory
Nine-billion-dollar rescission returns spending power to Congress
Trump cancels $4.9B in foreign aid using fiscal year loophole
White House kills $4.9B in aid using obscure budget loophole, bypassing Congress
Senate kills $1.1 billion for public media and foreign aid on party lines
Senate cuts $1.1 billion for public media, folds USAID into State
Appropriations Committee defunds CPB and slashes foreign operations
Johnson’s House axe cuts $9B in media and aid
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