Supreme Court backs Trump in withholding $4 billion in foreign aid

In the United States, on September 25, 2025, the Supreme Court granted President Donald Trump a significant victory by allowing him to keep $4 billion in foreign aid frozen. This decision stemmed from a long-standing legal contention regarding the president's authority to withhold funds that Congress had previously approved. Trump's administration argued that these funds were wasteful and invoked a rarely used mechanism known as pocket rescission, which allows the president to ask Congress to cancel appropriated spending at the end of the budget year. Under federal law, lawmakers are required to respond to such requests within a set timeframe, but Trump’s strategy relied on waiting out that period to maintain control over the funds. This ruling follows a contentious legal battle that highlighted the tensions between the executive branch and Congress over budgetary powers. While the Supreme Court's ruling is not final, it emphasized the administration's method of using emergency appeals to further its policy goals. Critics have raised concerns about the implications of this ruling on the division of powers within the government and the impact on foreign aid programs, sparking debate over the balance of authority between Congress and the President. The case is expected to continue in lower courts; however, for now, the funding pertaining to this aid will remain suspended as legal proceedings unfold. The situation underscores ongoing discussions regarding foreign aid in the United States and involves various nonprofit organizations that rely on these funds for global health and humanitarian efforts, who have openly criticized the cuts as detrimental to American values and worldwide influence.