Chief Justice Roberts Temporarily Backs Trump’s $4 Billion Foreign Aid Freeze

Supreme Court chief justice halts lower-court ruling, fueling showdown over Trump’s “pocket rescission” and limits of presidential spending power.

WASHINGTON | Chief Justice John Roberts has handed President Donald Trump a temporary victory in his effort to block $4 billion in foreign aid funds approved by Congress, escalating a constitutional fight over who controls federal spending.

In a one-page order on Tuesday, Roberts granted the Trump administration’s emergency request to pause a lower-court ruling that had ordered officials to prepare the aid for distribution before the current budget cycle ends on September 30. The ruling gives the administration breathing room as the full Supreme Court weighs whether Trump’s move to withhold funds—without congressional approval—violates federal law.

At the center of the dispute is Trump’s aggressive use of “impoundment” powers, which allow presidents to propose spending cuts but only with congressional approval under the 1974 Impoundment Control Act. Trump has tested those boundaries with an unprecedented tactic dubbed a “pocket rescission”—announcing cuts fewer than 45 days before the fiscal year’s end, leaving Congress little time to act.

Earlier rulings from U.S. District Judge Amir Ali had declared the move illegal, calling it a direct usurpation of Congress’s “power of the purse.” Aid groups sued, arguing that the administration’s refusal to release the funds undermines critical humanitarian and development programs abroad.

Roberts did not explain his order but noted that Congress could still intervene, since Trump’s proposed rescission remains formally pending. However, if Congress does not act, the administration argues the cuts automatically take effect—an interpretation critics warn could permanently shift budgetary power from the legislative to the executive branch.

The Justice Department insists Trump is within his rights, while the D.C. Circuit Court has been divided over whether outside groups even have standing to challenge the administration. With Roberts’ intervention, the final outcome now rests with the Supreme Court, setting up a pivotal decision with far-reaching implications for U.S. governance and foreign aid commitments.

What’s at Stake:

• Separation of Powers: The case could redefine the limits of presidential authority in federal budgeting.
• Global Aid: Billions in U.S. assistance for development and security partners remain in limbo.
• Congressional Authority: A ruling favoring Trump could weaken Congress’s constitutional spending role.

The battle over Trump’s foreign aid freeze is more than a budget dispute—it’s a constitutional clash that may reshape how America funds its commitments abroad.

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-- By James W. Thomas and Michele Robinson

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