What to know about the $810 million in spending canceled by President Trump
Summary
The Trump administration is withholding over $800 million in congressionally appropriated funds for programs like refugee resettlement and disease control, a move the Government Accountability Office deems illegal. NPR reporter Eric McDaniel and Georgetown law professor Josh Chafetz discuss how this "pocket rescission" violates the Constitution's power of the purse and undermines legislative authority. The episode highlights bipartisan backlash, including from Senator Susan Collins, and notes that Congress has largely failed to check executive overreach in other areas, such as unauthorized …
Topics discussed
Show intro and sponsor segment
Episode overview and host introduction
White House withholding congressionally appropriated funds
Explanation of pocket rescission and legal status
Senate reaction and details on targeted cuts
Legal analysis of power of the purse violations
Lawmaker reactions and constitutional implications
Congressional inaction on military operations
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