The White House has made an official request to Congress for a rescission of $9.4 billion in previously approved spending, a move associated with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
This action, known as ‘rescission,’ requires President Donald Trump to gain congressional approval to reclaim funds that had been appropriated.
According to Trump’s aides, the proposed funding cuts focus on programs deemed to promote liberal ideologies.
If approved by Congress, this request would solidify many of the spending cuts and freezes outlined by DOGE, occurring at a time when Musk has publicly expressed frustration over the ongoing tax cut and spending plan in Congress, labeling it a ‘disgusting abomination’ for its potential to increase the federal deficit.
Experts are questioning whether this rescission will significantly impact the national debt.
The request represents a mere 0.1% of the estimated $7 trillion the government plans to spend this year, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Despite the $9.4 billion rescission request, tax revenues remain insufficient to cover rising costs associated with Social Security, Medicare, and other programs.
During a press briefing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt highlighted the budget director, Russ Vought, who is known for his fiscal conservatism.
Leavitt indicated that Vought has various strategies to potentially generate further savings in the upcoming weeks and months.
Among the programs targeted for funding cuts, a White House Office of Management and Budget spokesperson outlined significant reductions, including $8.3 billion from the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Federal funding for NPR and PBS is also at risk.
Specific ‘wasteful’ programs identified by the Trump administration include $750,000 aimed at reducing xenophobia in Venezuela, $67,000 allocated for feeding insect powder to children in Madagascar, and $3 million designated for circumcision, vasectomies, and condoms in Zambia.
The likelihood of the rescissions package passing appears bolstered by the support from members of the House Freedom Caucus, a group of the most conservative lawmakers in the chamber.
These lawmakers are urging House Speaker Mike Johnson to expedite the process of bringing the rescissions package to a vote.
In a press release, the Freedom Caucus expressed their eagerness to support further rescissions as they are presented by the White House.
‘Passing this rescissions package will be an important demonstration of Congress’s willingness to deliver on DOGE and the Trump agenda,’ they stated.
The need for congressional approval stems from the 1974 Impoundment Control Act, which governs the process by which the president can formally notify Congress of the funds it intends not to spend.
Congress then has a 45-day window to review and approve the request.
Bobby Kogan, a senior director at the Center for American Progress, criticized the Trump administration’s tactics, asserting that withholding funds without explicit congressional approval is illegal.
In a recent CNN interview, Vought defended the administration’s actions, asserting compliance with the law while acknowledging differing interpretations of legal responsibilities among political parties.
‘We’re not breaking the law,’ Vought declared, emphasizing the ongoing tensions between the executive and legislative branches regarding budgetary authority.
image source from：https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trump-formally-asks-congress-to-claw-back-approved-spending-targeted-by-doge
