U.S. President Donald Trump has moved to withhold $5 billion in foreign aid approved by Congress, increasing the likelihood of a federal government shutdown.
The cuts will affect programs managed by the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), according to a letter sent to the House of Representatives. The White House said the move reflects the administration’s “America First” policy.
Since returning to office in January, Trump has significantly downsized government agencies, including USAID, which was established in 1961 to support development projects worldwide. Recent changes have eliminated most of USAID’s programming, reducing the agency’s global influence.
Although Republicans control both chambers of Congress, Democratic support is required in the Senate to approve new spending measures. Trump has used a late-year strategy to attempt rescinding funds, potentially leaving Congress little time to respond before the fiscal year ends on September 30.
Democrats have warned that efforts to reverse approved funding could halt negotiations to prevent a shutdown. If funding lapses, essential services like air traffic control and law enforcement would continue without pay, while non-essential operations, such as federal parks and inspections, could close temporarily.
The U.S. narrowly avoided a government shutdown in March, illustrating how disruptive such events can be. Lawmakers face mounting pressure to reach an agreement before the new fiscal year begins.
