Trump vetoes $4.9 billion in foreign aid, employs legislative maneuver last used nearly half a century ago, which was initially approved by Congress.

In a move that marks one of the Trump administration's hallmark policies, President Donald Trump has announced he will not spend $4.9 billion in congressionally approved foreign aid. This decision, known as a pocket rescission, allows a president to submit a request to Congress not to spend approved funds towards the end of the fiscal year.

The pocket rescission package includes $3.2 billion in development assistance grants, $520 million for the United Nations, $838 million for international peacekeeping operations, and $322 million to encourage democratic values in other countries. The funds will not be spent before the fiscal year ends on September 30, according to the White House.

This is the first time in nearly 50 years a president has used a pocket rescission. The move has drawn immediate backlash in parts of the Senate over its legality. The Constitution grants Congress the power of the purse, meaning the President cannot unilaterally rescind appropriations through a "pocket rescission"; such rescissions require congressional approval to be legitimate.

The administration's decision to cut foreign aid has been a consistent policy. In February, the administration announced plans to eliminate almost all of USAID's foreign aid contracts and $60 billion in overall assistance abroad. The move to cut foreign aid has been a hallmark of the Trump administration, with deep reductions being made to foreign aid one of its key policies.

The Trump administration has faced legal challenges over its attempts to cut foreign aid. The administration initially appealed to the Supreme Court to stop lower court decisions that had preserved foreign aid, but withdrew its appeal after a favorable appeals court ruling.

The funds in the pocket rescission package are set to be cut from the State Department and the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The move comes as the fiscal year ends on September 30, and the White House argues that the money won't be spent and the funding lapses due to the timing of the rescission.

The funds intended to encourage democratic values in other countries amount to $322 million. The $838 million earmarked for international peacekeeping operations is also set to be cut. The $520 million of the funds are allocated for the United Nations.

The decision to cut foreign aid has raised concerns about the impact on international relations and global stability. As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how Congress will respond to the administration's use of a pocket rescission to cut foreign aid.

Trump vetoes $4.9 billion in foreign aid, employs legislative maneuver last used nearly half a century ago, which was initially approved by Congress.