President Trump is using a tool called “pocket rescission” to cut roughly $5 billion in congressionally approved funding, sparking bipartisan pushback. Trump announced the move in a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), aiming to test the limits of presidential authority and eliminate wasteful spending that doesn’t align with the president’s agenda. The Impoundment Control Act (ICA) allows the administration to temporarily withhold funding for 45 days while Congress considers the rescissions request. However, a pocket rescission occurs when the president sends the same request to Congress within 45 days of the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30, essentially paused until the funding runs out at the end of the year, regardless of congressional action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n