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The Trump administration has filed an emergency request with the U.S. Supreme Court to maintain a freeze on billions of dollars in congressionally approved foreign aid. The appeal follows a ruling by U.S. District Judge Amir Ali, who determined that withholding the funds likely violates federal appropriations law.
At the center of the legal dispute is approximately $4.9 billion in aid that President Donald Trump declined to spend, invoking a rarely used maneuver known as a “pocket rescission.” This tactic allows the executive branch to propose canceling allocated funds late in the fiscal year, effectively preventing Congress from acting within the required 45-day window.
The administration argues that the district court’s injunction poses a “grave and urgent threat to the separation of powers,” and has asked the Supreme Court to pause the order specifically related to the disputed $4 billion. Meanwhile, the Justice Department has stated it intends to obligate an additional $6.5 billion in aid before the fiscal year ends on September 30.
Nonprofit organizations and aid groups have challenged the freeze, warning that it disrupts critical humanitarian programs and undermines congressional authority over federal spending. The Supreme Court’s response could set a precedent for executive control over foreign assistance and broader budgetary powers.
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