Trump administration cancels nearly $1 billion in congressionally approved spending via pocket rescission

The White House announced on Friday, September 26, 2026, that it was canceling approximately $810 million in unspent federal funding, primarily targeting Health and Human Services programs serving refugees and noncitizens, as well as DEI-related and immigration-focused initiatives across multiple agencies. The administration used a "pocket rescission" maneuver, submitting the request just five days before the end of the fiscal year so Congress's 45-day review window would expire before action could be taken. Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) and Democratic lawmakers condemned the move as illegal, citing a Government Accountability Office ruling that pocket rescissions are unlawful.