‘We intend to use all of these tools’: White House threatens controversial pocket rescission to make DOGE cuts permanent

The White House has officially sent Congress a request to eliminate $9.4 billion in current funding for public broadcasting and foreign aid, marking a significant test of Republican support for the administration’s agency funding cuts. The request includes $8.3 billion in foreign aid cuts and $1.1 billion from public broadcasting, affecting National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service.

According to Politico, the rescissions memo, delivered Tuesday to Capitol Hill, also targets funding across multiple State Department accounts, including UN peacekeeping contributions, $900 million in global health programs, and $800 million for migration and refugee assistance. Congress now has 45 days to either approve or reject the administration’s recommendation.

White House budget director Russ Vought has escalated the administration’s stance on funding cuts, stating that “we intend to use all of these tools.” He suggested that the administration might not need congressional approval to block certain funding, citing executive tools and historical presidential abilities to spend below the ceiling.

White House signals potential use of pocket rescission tactic

The Trump administration has indicated it might employ a controversial “pocket rescission” strategy to make DOGE cuts permanent, regardless of congressional approval. This approach would involve sending additional rescission requests near the fiscal year’s end and potentially withholding funds until they expire on September 30.

The move has sparked concern among lawmakers, particularly Democrats. Senate’s top Democratic appropriator, Patty Murray, pointed out that Trump’s rescission request actually acknowledges Congress’s constitutional authority over funding decisions, making the administration’s subsequent threats particularly noteworthy.

While Speaker Mike Johnson has committed to swift action on the package in the House, the request faces uncertainty in the Senate. Despite requiring only a simple majority, similar attempts have failed before, as evidenced by the defeat of Trump’s $15 billion rescission request in 2018.

Republican reactions have been mixed, with some senators like John Cornyn supporting more frequent rescission requests, while others express concerns about specific cuts. Senator Mike Rounds has raised questions about the impact on public broadcasting, particularly regarding native American tribes and rural areas that depend on public radio stations and emergency broadcasting systems.