Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-26 · by Kevin Freking And Jonathan Cooper The Associated Press
President Trump is canceling nearly $1 billion in spending approved by Congress using a rarely used authority called a “pocket rescission.” The funds are primarily for Health and Human Services programs that aid refugees and unaccompanied minors. Critics, including Senator Susan Collins, argue the move undermines congressional power over budget decisions. This action follows Trump’s previous use of this authority last year to block $4.9 billion in foreign aid, illustrating a pattern of exerting greater executive control over government spending.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-26,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
President Trump ordered the cancellation of $810 million in congressionally approved funding on Friday, marking the second use of a "pocket rescission" in 49 years. This controversial move zeroes out funds for illegal immigrants and race-focused programs across seven federal departments, including HHS, Education, and Homeland Security. Key cuts include $10 million from minority business grants, $10 million for legal services aiding illegal immigrants, and $70 million allocated to "woke" international education initiatives. Critics argue the move undermines Congress's constitutional authority over spending; Republican Senator Susan Collins called it an "illegal action."
Written for “Trump Pocket Rescission Spending” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 13 other(s) covering the same event.
President Donald Trump is canceling nearly $1 billion in spending approved by Congress, the White House announced on Friday, using a rare and contested power to axe funding for immigrant services and diversity-focused initiatives.
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House → cancel → services
Trump’s Office of Management and Budget described the funding cut as focused on “the most harmful government spending.”
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Office → describe → spending
Most of the cuts are focused on Health and Human Services programs that serve refugees and unaccompanied minors accused of being in the country illegally.
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that → focus → country
The administration says the funds are no longer necessary because illegal border crossings have diminished considerably.
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crossings → say → ?
A White House press release announcing the funding rescissions notes that some of the organizations are led by people who worked in the administration of Democratic President Barack Obama.
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who → announce → Obama
Trump’s move was condemned by Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican in a tough re-election campaign and chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
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move → condemn → Committee
Collins said in a statement that the action came without warning or consultation.
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action → say → warning
She also said she would work to address with colleagues “these illegal actions.”
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she → say → actions
“Not only is the delay itself an impoundment that was not reported to Congress, but also it is a usurpation of Congress’s appropriations powers,” Collins said.
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Collins → report → powers
It does not get to decide which programs are worth funding.”
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programs → get → ?
Typically, Congress can review the president’s proposed spending cuts before they take effect.
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they → review → effect
But Trump made that all but impossible by announcing them with just five days left in the federal fiscal year.
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that → make → year
The Government Accountability Office says the maneuver, known as a “pocket rescission,” is illegal.
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maneuver → say → rescission
Collins called it the latest attempt by OMB to “undermine Congress’s Constitutional power of the purse.”
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Collins → call → purse
A year ago, Trump issued a pocket rescission for the first time in 50 years by blocking $4.9 billion in congressionally approved foreign aid.
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Trump → issue → aid
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to block those rescissions, saying that Trump’s authority over foreign affairs weighed heavily in its decision.
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authority → decline → decision
This year, Trump is targeting domestic spending.
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Trump → target → spending
The use of a “pocket rescission” fits into a broader pattern by the Trump administration to exert greater control over the U.S. government, eroding Congress’s power.
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use → fit → power
The administration has also fired federal workers, imposed a historic increase in tariffs, and started the war in Iran without going through Congress, putting the burden on the judicial branch to determine the limits of presidential power.
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administration → fire → power
Sen. Patty Murray, the lead Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, described the White House action as “theft from the American people, plain and simple.”
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Murray → describe → people
“These are funds Congress has delivered on a bipartisan basis and should be helping people—not cut off by a president more focused on building a ballroom than investing in families,” Murray said.
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Murray → deliver → families
In addition to immigrant services, the White House said it was rescinding $70 million for what it called “woke” international education programs, $28 million in grant funding for Health and Human Services research programs, and $9 million in debt relief for foreign countries that fund climate change policies.
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that → say → policies
Another $10 million was being withheld from a minority business development program.
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million → withhold → program
The Aporia
