Trump administration again uses pocket rescission to block $810 million in spending
On September 25, President Donald Trump told House Speaker Mike Johnson the administration would not spend $810 million appropriated for fiscal year 2026. This marked Trump’s second use of pocket rescission and the second time any president has used the practice since the 1970s. Pocket rescission lets a president request cancellation of unspent funds less than 45 days before they expire, so the money can lapse if Congress does not act.
"Trump’s Sept. 25 letter to Speaker Mike Johnson said $810 million in fiscal 2026 funds would not be spent. This was his second pocket rescission; before 2025, Jimmy Carter used it in 1977 and Gerald Ford in 1975. Congress acted after those funds expired, rejecting Ford’s requests and approving Carter’s; it later extended Ford-era lapsed funds over a veto."
Count: Trump’s1 Sept2 25(3) letter4 to5 Speaker6 Mike7 Johnson8 said9 $81010 million11 in12 fiscal13 2026(14) funds15 would16 not17 be18 spent19. This20 was21 his22 second23 pocket24 rescission25; before26 2025(27), Jimmy28 Carter29 used30 it31 in32 1977(33) and34 Gerald35 Ford36 in37 1975(38). Congress39 acted40 after41 those42 funds43 expired44, rejecting45 Ford’s46 requests47 and48 approving49 Carter’s50; it51 later52 extended53 Ford-era54 lapsed55 funds56 over57 a58 veto59. Good 59.
Second paragraph:
"Pocket rescission lets a president seek cancellation of unspent money fewer than 45 days before expiration, often Sept. 30. The budget office may withhold it while Congress considers; if lawmakers do not reject the request before expiration, the funds lapse. In 2025, Trump used it on $4.9 billion in foreign aid, with OMB and GAO disagreeing over its legality."
Count: Pocket1 rescission2 lets3 a4 president5 seek6 cancellation7 of8 unspent9 money10 fewer11 than12 45(13) days14 before15 expiration16, often17 Sept18 30(19). The20 budget21 office22 may23 withhold24 it25 while26 Congress27 considers28; if29 lawmakers30 do31