The Supreme Court allowed a pocket rescission of about $4 billion in foreign assistance funds to go forward in 2025.
Posted by The Lawfare Podcast, Checked
- Sources
- 6 support
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 93%
The Lawfare PodcastOct 8, 2026
… already-appropriated federal funding, timed so the money will expire at the end of the fiscal year on September 30, before the 45 days Congress has to review the rescission request. It’s the second time the Trump administration has used the maneuver after the Supreme Court let the pocket rescission of about $4 billion in foreign assistance funds go forward last year. Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins and Democratic appropriators have denounced the move as illegal, the Government Accountability Office agrees, and seven states (among other plaintiffs) have already sued. …
The Supreme Court's September 26, 2025 unsigned emergency order let the Trump administration withhold about $4 billion in congressionally approved foreign aid, which multiple outlets describe as effectively a pocket rescission. The post's 'last year' corresponds to 2025, so the claim matches the passage.
What we found
Supports. Reuters reported that on September 26, 2025 the Supreme Court permitted the administration to retain approximately $4 billion in foreign aid, lifting a lower court order to disburse it.[1][4]
Supports. Politico and ABC News describe the ruling as effectively blessing the 'pocket rescission' maneuver, letting the funds lapse at fiscal year end without congressional approval.[2][5]
Supports. NPR and Roll Call confirm the 6-3 order allowed the administration to effectively decline to pay about $4 billion in foreign aid funds that were set to expire September 30.[3][6]
Context. The Supreme Court did not rule on the merits; the order was a stay and the majority's reasoning was unsigned, centering on likely standing problems for the aid groups and the administration's likely success under the Impoundment Control Act.[1][5][6]
Sources
6 sources: 1 fact-checker, 2 tier 2, 3 not rated
- 1US Supreme Court lets Trump withhold $4 billion in foreign aidreuters.com · fact-checker · cited for: supports, context
- 2Supreme Court clears way for Trump to withhold $4B in ...politico.com · tier 2 · cited for: supports
- 3Supreme Court allows Trump to withhold $4 billion in ...npr.org · tier 2 · cited for: supports
- 4US Supreme Court Lets Trump Withhold $4 Billion in Foreign Aidusnews.com · not rated · cited for: supports
- 5Supreme Court allows Trump to cut $4B in foreign aid in ' ...abcnews.com · not rated · cited for: supports, context
- 6Supreme Court allows US to cancel $4 billion in foreign aid ...rollcall.com · not rated · cited for: supports, context
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post
Related claims
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