Exclusive | Trump cancels nearly $1B in funding for illegal immigrants and race-focused programs in new pocket rescission

WASHINGTON — President Trump on Friday ordered the cancellation of $810 million in congressionally appropriated funding, including large sums meant for illegal immigrants and race-focused programs, in the second “pocket” rescission in 49 years, The Post has learned.The action eliminates 11 pools of unspent money at seven federal departments and agencies as part of a drive by fiscal hawks to whittle down executive-branch expenses.“In accordance with… the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, I herewith report 11 rescissions of budget authority, totaling $810 million,” Trump wrote in a notice to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).“The proposed rescissions affect programs of the Departments of Commerce, Education, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, and Justice, as well as for International Assistance Programs.”A pocket rescission is a proposed cancelation of congressionally mandated spending that occurs so late in the federal fiscal year that it takes effect regardless of legislative pushback.It is legally controversial because Congress otherwise has 45 days to consider the action.With just five days before the fiscal year ends on Sept 30, the White House Office of Management and Budget identified areas where funding arguably is no longer needed or contrary to Trump’s policies.The largest pot of funds — $567 million appropriated for HHS to provide social services to illegal immigrants, including through grants to non-government organizations — was deemed to be no longer necessary because of the near-elimination of illegal border crossings in the past year.Some of the organizations that had received funds through the program drew controversy due to their political connections to Democrats and their alleged tolerance of child abuse.The next-largest sum being eliminated, $70 million, was allocated to fellowships and grants for foreign academics and students in the US.

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