The White House has told Congress it plans to cancel about $810 million in education and health funding approved by lawmakers, escalating its use of a legally untested power to rescind spending without congressional approval.
The 12-page notification covers programmes including $25 million of the $52 million allocated for migrant students and $27 million for health research under the Department of Health and Human Services.
It follows a $4.9 billion clawback of foreign aid funding approved by Congress, which the Trump administration began pursuing last year. On both occasions, the administration acted so late in the financial year that lawmakers would have little time to reject the requests before the money expired.
The financial year ends on September 30, before the 45-day period in which Congress is required to consider a rescission request. Republicans could bring the issue to a vote earlier, although House members are due to be campaigning until the midterm elections in November.
Lawmakers attack White House funding plan
The proposal was criticised by lawmakers from both parties, including Senator Susan Collins, the Republican chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee.
“This move shows that O.M.B. intentionally withheld these funds for months to execute this unlawful cancellation of appropriations that were approved on a bipartisan basis and signed into law,” Ms Collins said, referring to the White House Office of Management and Budget.
“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. O.M.B. is an agency of the executive branch. It does not get to decide which programs are worth funding,” she added.
Ms Collins said she would work with colleagues “to address these illegal actions”.
Senator Patty Murray of Washington, the senior Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, also condemned the move.
“This is theft from the American people, plain and simple,” she said. “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. Every Republican who voted for these bills should be furious.”
