US appeals court says Trump administration can't unilaterally cut foreign aid

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Friday upheld a lower court's order that prohibited President Donald Trump and his administration from unilaterally withholding billions in foreign aid.

The administration tried to withhold roughly $4 billion of the $11 billion appropriated in 2024 for aid projects. 

The Trump administration tried to utilize the “pocket rescission” strategy to withhold the funds. 

U.S. District Judge Amir Ali ruled that the administration needs congressional approval to override spending laws. 

“To be clear, no one disputes that defendants have significant discretion in how to spend the funds at issue, and the court is not directing defendants to make payments to any particular recipients,” wrote Ali, who was nominated by former President Joe Biden. “But defendants do not have any discretion as to whether to spend the funds.”