The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in favor of President Donald Trump’s decision to block $4 billion in foreign aid approved by Congress, marking a significant legal victory for the administration. In a 6-3 ruling, the court overturned a prior decision by Biden-appointed Judge Amir Ali, who had blocked the cuts and ordered the restoration of funding.
The dispute centers on Trump’s use of a “pocket rescission,” a rare procedural tool that allows a president to delay spending congressionally approved funds near the end of the fiscal year. Trump notified Congress in late September that he would withhold the aid, leaving lawmakers with limited time to act before the fiscal year ended on September 30. A lower court had deemed this maneuver unlawful, but the Supreme Court’s decision now halts enforcement of that ruling.
The administration argued that Congress’s failure to act within 45 days of the rescission request permits the president to withhold the funds. However, critics contend this undermines legislative authority over spending. The three liberal justices dissented, with Justice Elena Kagan criticizing the court for bypassing full review and addressing “uncharted territory” without thorough analysis.
The ruling allows Trump’s administration to continue withholding the funds, reigniting debates over executive power and constitutional limits on presidential authority.