President Donald Trump announced plans to cancel $810 million in spending that had previously been approved by Congress, a move that has drawn criticism from members of his own Republican Party who argue the action may be illegal.
The $810 million in funding, which had cleared the legislative process, is slated to be withdrawn under the president’s new proposal, though the specific programs or agencies affected were not detailed in the announcement.
Several Republican lawmakers responded quickly, saying the cancellation could violate legal constraints on the executive branch’s authority to overturn spending that Congress has already authorized.
While presidents regularly propose budget adjustments, the outright rescission of previously enacted appropriations is uncommon and can raise questions about compliance with the Constitution’s separation of powers and the statutory requirements governing federal spending.
The dispute is expected to generate further debate in Washington as lawmakers assess the legal and political implications of the president’s proposed cut.
<small>Source: NPR — read the original story there.</small>
