Late Friday, the Trump administration announced plans to cancel $810 million in funds for health and education programs, only days before the new fiscal year begins on Thursday. This “pocket rescission” is a maneuver used shortly before the end of the fiscal year, which attempts to take back money that has already been appropriated by Congress. The same tactic was used last year by the administration to cancel $4.9 billion in foreign aid funds. The Government Accountability Office has called pocket rescissions illegal.
Top appropriators from both parties have accused OMB of acting illegally by intentionally withholding funds for months. In a statement, Chair of Senate Appropriations Committee Susan Collins said “any effort to rescind appropriated funds without congressional approval is a clear violation of the law. I will work with my colleagues to address these illegal actions.”
On the Hill this week:
- The Senate is scheduled to vote on the Protect College Sports Act (S. 4668) at 5:30pm today, which will set new rules for name, image, and likeness issues. It is expected to pass with wide bipartisan support.
- Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions pending nominations on September 30, including Nicole Saphier to be surgeon general, Timothy Westlake to be assistant HHS secretary for mental health and substance use, and Mary Lazare to be assistant HHS secretary for aging