The Trump administration on Monday asked the Supreme Court for an emergency order to keep nearly $5 billion in foreign aid frozen, despite a lower court ruling that the move was likely illegal.
President Donald Trump announced on Aug. 28 that he would not spend $4.9 billion in congressionally approved foreign aid, using a rarely invoked budget maneuver known as a pocket rescission. The authority, disputed in court, has not been used by a president in about 50 years.
U.S. District Judge Amir Ali ruled last week that the administration’s decision violated the law, noting that only Congress can approve rescission proposals. A federal appeals panel also refused to block his ruling, prompting the administration to appeal to the Supreme Court.
Justice Department lawyers said another $6.5 billion in aid under the freeze will be released by Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year.
Nonprofit groups that filed the lawsuit argued the freeze broke federal law and disrupted urgent humanitarian programs overseas.