Trump Invokes Rare Authority To Cancel Nearly $1,000,000,000 In Congressionally Approved Spending

President Donald Trump has moved to cancel more than $800 million that Congress approved for refugee aid, migrant education and diversity programs.

The White House announced late Friday it would rescind $810 million in appropriated funds through a rare budgetary tool called a pocket rescission, according to CBS News. The largest cut, $567 million, hit Health and Human Services (HHS) accounts that funded nonprofits serving refugees and asylees, according to the administration.

Officials argued the money is no longer needed because illegal crossings have fallen sharply under Trump’s border policies. They labeled the spending wasteful and harmful to taxpayers.