BH Bulletin: Trump blocks $4.9 billion in foreign aid approved by Congress

In a letter sent Thursday to Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson President Donald Trump mentioned he would not be spending billion in congressionally approved foreign aid effectively cutting the budget without going through the legislative branch The letter was posted Friday morning on the X account of the White House Office of Management and Budget Trump s move rests on a tool not used in nearly years known as a pocket rescission A president submits a request to Congress to not spend approved funds toward the end of the fiscal year so that Congress can t act on the request in the -day time frame and the money goes unspent as a product The fiscal year draws to a close at the end of September Such a move if standardized by the White House could effectively circumvent Congress on key spending choices and potentially wrest selected control over spending from the House and the Senate US warns Russia to move toward peace and meet with Ukraine or face practicable sanctions A senior U S diplomat at the United Nations delivered the warning at a U N Measure Council meeting on Ukraine saying Russia s latest drone and missile attacks resulting in numerous civilian casualties cast doubt on the seriousness of Russia s desire for peace These strikes must stop promptly Minister-Counselor John Kelley mentioned Russia must decide now to move toward peace The leaders of Russia and Ukraine must agree to meet bilaterally Kelley noted President Donald Trump s warning that the U S could take further economic measures if Russia instead chooses to continue this war measures which could have far-reaching impact on Russia s future economic prosperity The United States calls on the Russian Federation to avoid these consequences by stopping the violence and engaging constructively to end the war explained Kelley who is the U S Mission s political coordinator