Supreme Court Temporarily Backs Trump in $4 Billion Foreign Aid Dispute

The Supreme Court has temporarily allowed President Donald Trump’s administration to halt billions of dollars in foreign aid spending that Congress had already approved, marking the latest clash over presidential authority and budget powers.

Chief Justice John Roberts issued the order Tuesday, granting an “administrative stay” that permits the administration to pause $4 billion in foreign aid while the justices review the case. The order is not a final ruling but buys time for the high court to weigh the dispute.

At issue is funding for global health and HIV/AIDS programs, part of an aid package Congress passed earlier this year. Trump has deemed the spending wasteful and attempted to cancel it through executive order and a rare maneuver known as a “pocket rescission.” That move would effectively cancel the funds unless Congress takes action.

Lower courts had blocked Trump’s efforts, with U.S. District Judge Amir Ali ruling that the president cannot override Congress’s constitutional authority to mandate how appropriated funds are spent. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld that ruling, leading the Trump administration to seek emergency intervention from the Supreme Court.

“The president can hardly speak with one voice in foreign affairs or in dealings with Congress when the district court is forcing the executive branch to advocate against its own objectives,” Solicitor General D. John Sauer argued.

The administration has told the Supreme Court it plans to spend $6.5 billion of the disputed aid by the end of September but wants to retain control over the remaining $4 billion. Critics, however, say the administrative stay could let the White House run out the clock, leaving the money unspent and undermining Congress’s budget authority.

“The government’s theory that agencies need not comply with enacted legislation mandating they spend funds would fundamentally upend our constitutional structure,” lawyers for the groups suing argued.

The court has ordered the challengers to respond by Friday afternoon. The case could set an important precedent for how much discretion presidents have to withhold money Congress has already appropriated.

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