Donald Trump (AP)
The US Supreme Court on Friday sided with President Trump, allowing his administration to withhold roughly $4 billion in foreign aid approved by Congress for the current fiscal year, granting emergency relief in line with his “America First” agenda.The Supreme Court’s ruling follows an earlier order by Chief Justice John Roberts that temporarily blocked a lower court injunction requiring the Trump administration to spend Congress-approved foreign aid by the end of September. The court appeared to split 6-3, with Justices Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissenting.The liberal justices argued that Friday’s ruling undermines the constitutional principle of separation of powers among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. They emphasized that the US Constitution “gives Congress the power to make spending decisions through the enactment of appropriations laws,” as cited by Reuters.In an unsigned order, the court said the potential harm to the executive branch’s ability to manage foreign affairs outweighs the possible impact on the plaintiffs, who are organizations and businesses receiving foreign aid funding, as reported by CBS News. It added that it, “should not be read as a final determination on the merits. The relief granted by the Court today reflects our preliminary view, consistent with the standards for interim relief.”Trump has also taken steps to dismantle the US Agency for International Development, the primary agency responsible for American foreign aid.The US government’s 2025 fiscal year ends on September 30. The $4 billion in aid at the center of the dispute was allocated by Congress for foreign aid, United Nations peacekeeping, and democracy-promotion programs abroad, as reported by Reuters. Last year, Congress budgeted billions in foreign aid, including roughly $11 billion set to expire at the end of the fiscal year. The Trump administration sought to block the $4 billion through a “pocket rescission,” an unusual tactic intended to avoid spending funds appropriated by Congress, which holds the constitutional power of the purse.The Trump administration last month had asked the Supreme Court to intervene in a legal dispute over foreign aid, arguing that without action, it would be forced to release billions of dollars, undermining its foreign-policy decisions. In an emergency appeal, the Justice Department requested that the justices block a lower court order requiring the government to commit roughly $12 billion in aid before the fiscal year ends on September 30, according to CNN.Trump’s budget director, Russell Vought, argued that the president can withhold funds for 45 days after requesting a rescission, effectively delaying spending until the fiscal year ends. The White House noted that this approach was last employed in 1977. Some legal experts have said that Trump’s attempt to reclaim billions in congressionally approved funds in this manner is unprecedented, as cited by Reuters.
