Trump cancels nearly $1 billion in spending approved by Congress, a move some lawmakers called illegal

September 25, 2026 / 9:38 PM EDT / CBS News

President Trump moved to cancel almost $1 billion in spending that was approved by Congress, the White House said late Friday, marking the second time the administration has employed a rarely used tactic that some lawmakers in both parties have called illegal.

The administration said it was calling off $567 million in spending on services for refugees, asylees and other migrants through the Department of Health and Human Services. The White House is also rescinding $50 million for several other programs that aid immigrants and noncitizens, $70 million in "Woke International Education" grants and fellowships and $56 million in Housing and Urban Development programs.

"President Trump is committed to utilizing all possible tools to cut wasteful and harmful government spending that does not benefit American citizens," the White House said.

The White House said it would claw back the spending through a controversial maneuver called a "pocket rescission," in which the president notifies Congress shortly before the end of the fiscal year that it doesn't wish to spend funds that lawmakers appropriated.

Under the Impoundment Control Act, the president can propose rescissions of budget authority, which Congress has 45 legislative…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/