Supreme Court’s Chief Justice intervenes in dispute over presidential authority to withhold congressionally approved funds.
In a move that puts a temporary hold on a lower court’s ruling, Chief Justice John Roberts has temporarily allowed the Trump administration to continue its freeze on nearly $5 billion in foreign aid.
The decision comes after the administration filed an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court, challenging a U.S. District Judge’s order that deemed the withholding of funds likely illegal.
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The case centers on President Donald Trump’s use of a “pocket rescission,” a controversial method where a president notifies Congress late in the budget year of their intent to not spend approved money, making it impossible for Congress to act within the required 45-day window.
On August 28, President Trump informed House Speaker Mike Johnson that he would not spend $4.9 billion in congressionally approved foreign aid.
The temporary Supreme Court order suggests the justices may ultimately reverse the lower court’s ruling, which was issued by U.S. District Judge Amir Ali.
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Judge Ali had argued that Congress would need to approve the decision to withhold the funding.
While the case has been working its way through the courts for months, Roberts’ intervention is the latest development in the ongoing legal and political battle over the executive branch’s power to control spending.
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