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October 14, 2025

Trump Threatens Cuts to Democratic Programs

Associated Press
Techcrunch
CBS News
U.s. Department of Energy
Lawfare
+3

Threatens to circumvent 1974 Congressional Budget Act to eliminate approved programs

On October 14, 2025 President Trump said a list of 'Democrat programs' would be published on October 17. (Announcement date and planned publication date verified.)

On October 2, 2025 the U.S. Department of Energy announced it had terminated 321 awards supporting 223 projects, totaling about $7.56 billion. (DOE press release.)

The administration announced a pause of more than $11 billion in Army Corps projects, described as lower-priority pauses that include projects in multiple Democratic-led cities. (Administration statements and reporting.)

The Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 restricts unilateral presidential impoundment of appropriated funds and establishes a rescission process that involves Congress.

🏛️Government💰Economy

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People, bills, and sources

President Donald Trump

President of the United States

U.S. Department of Energy

Federal agency

Russell Vought

Russell Vought

White House Budget Office Director

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Federal engineering agency

What you can do

1

practicing

Check the DOE termination list and appeal deadlines

Awardees have a statutory window to appeal termination decisions; DOE's October 2, 2025 press release identifies a 30-day internal appeal right.

DOENews@hq.
2

civic action

Monitor Congressional rescission and appropriations steps

The Impoundment Control Act provides a formal rescission process that requires congressional action or lapse schedules for withheld funds.