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Rescissions Fight

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Rescission Package (Formal) $9.3–9.4 billion

 

Cuts to foreign aid & CPB via Congress; House passed, Senate pending

Education & Federal Grants Pause  $5–7 billion   DOE grants held/reviewed; potential impoundment under legal scrutiny

DOGE Agency Cuts~$2–5 million  VOA, NOAA program terminations under DOGE initiative

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On June 12, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed the rescission package in a 214–212 vote.

 

The Senate is expected to consider the measure next. Congress has until July 18 to send the package to President Trump; if it fails to do so, the president must spend the funds as appropriated.

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From global HIV treatment and emergency food aid to support for democratic institutions, the programs Trump is seeking to cut are vital to U.S. interests.

 

The cuts also risk impacts at home, slashing funding for universities, nonprofits, and contractors across dozens of states—undermining jobs, research, and America’s role in the world.

 

The Trump administration claims these cuts are eliminating “wasteful and unnecessary” spending, but it is slashing these cost-effective programs while pursuing spending in areas that bring little or no benefit to the American people, such as extended deployments of troops at the U.S. border or remodeling Trump’s newly gifted Boeing 747 jet from Qatar.

 

This fact sheet outlines what is being cut and what the Trump administration is prioritizing instead.

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What is a Rescission in U.S. Government Budgeting?

A rescission is a formal request from the President to cancel (or “rescind”) funds that Congress has previously approved in the federal budget.​

  • When the president submits a rescission proposal, Congress has 45 days to act.

  • If Congress does not approve it, the funds must be released.

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📝 Trump and Rescission Requests:

During his presidency, Donald Trump used rescission proposals as a political tool to:

  • Try to cut spending on programs he disagreed with.

  • Express opposition to bipartisan budget deals or specific congressional appropriations.

  • Push for more fiscal conservatism without needing a full budget renegotiation.

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🏛️ Why the Senate Matters:

  • Rescissions must be approved by both the House and Senate.

  • The Senate (especially when controlled by Republicans) was often hesitant to support Trump's rescission attempts because:

    • It would upset bipartisan negotiations.

    • Some viewed it as executive overreach into Congress’s power of the purse.

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✅ Summary:

  • Rescissions are presidential attempts to cancel allocated spending.

  • In Trump's first presidency (ugh), his rescissions did not pass the Senate.

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Here are the rescissions and related fund-holding actions from President Trump during the current Congress—including formal requests to Congress and agency-level pauses:

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🏛️ 1. Formal Rescission Package — $9.3–9.4 billion

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🛑 2. Pausing Educational & Federal Grant Funds

  • The Education Dept., at OMB’s direction, withheld nearly $5–7 billion in federal K–12 grants (after-school programs, English learner support, teacher training, migrant education, classroom tech) — affecting 33 states politico.com+1vox.com+1.

  • This is a form of impoundment (holding allocated funds pending review), alongside a broader effort to target DOE programs Trump opposes thetimes.co.uk+13vox.com+13washingtonpost.com+13.

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3. Agency-Level Funding Terminations (DOGE Cuts)

  • Under the budget office DOGE initiative, Trump cut several smaller federal contracts and programs in NOAA, including:

    • National Weather Service contract termination (~$1 m)

    • NOAA satellite & oceanic research contracts (~$1.6 m) en.wikipedia.org.

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Foreign aid programs facing rescission in fiscal year 2025 and what’s at stake

The roughly $8.3 billion in targeted accounts support U.S. responses to conflict, hunger, disease, and democratic decline—all core tools for advancing American interests and global stability. The table below outlines the affected accounts and the impact should the Senate pass the rescission package in its current form.

Click on headers to sort or search within the table.

Table outlining the foreign aid accounts targeted for funding rescission by the Trump administration, summarizing each account’s purpose and detailing the potential consequences of the proposed cuts.

Table with 5 columns and 16 rows. (column headers with buttons are sortable)

AccountRescission cut
(FY 2025)What this account fundsSample programsConsequences of the cut

Global Health Programs (State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development)$900MFunds lifesaving efforts to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, maternal and child mortality, and emerging disease threats in more than 50 countries. Supports global health security, strengthens health systems, and helps prevent pandemics.The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has saved 26 million lives since 2003.

Since 2000, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance—a public-private partnership delivering vaccines to low-income countries—has supported the immunization of more than 1.1 billion children, helping to prevent an estimated 18.8 million deaths.

In West Africa, U.S.-funded lab training and disease surveillance helped stop the 2014 Ebola outbreak, preventing a wider epidemic.

In Nepal, U.S.-funded maternal health efforts helped reduce maternal mortality by more than 70 percent since 2000, reaching 151 deaths per 100,000 live births.Rescinding global health funds unravels health infrastructure, disrupts supply chains, and weakens coordination across borders. The consequences include rising mortality, weakened partner governments, and increased risk of future pandemics. The Trump administration’s proposed cuts to family planning, maternal, child, and reproductive health programs risk increasing maternal mortality and preventable child deaths globally.

Development Assistance (DA)$2.5BInvests in the long-term economic development of a country. Supports agriculture, education, climate resilience, governance, and small-scale infrastructure in low-income countries.In 2023, the United States purchased 1.1 million metric tons of food from American farmers, supporting emergency food and nutrition assistance for more than 45 million people.

Power Africa has supported 152 power projects over the past decade, adding 14,300 megawatts of electricity across Africa.

Feed the Future has helped 23.4 million people escape poverty by boosting agricultural productivity and strengthening food systems.Rescinding DA funding for food security, education, clean water, and governance erodes gains and weakens future U.S. trading partners, reduces global economic resilience, and cedes development leadership to strategic rivals such as China and Russia.

International Disaster Assistance (IDA)$496MProvides humanitarian assistance to civilians in countries experiencing emergencies, natural disasters, conflict, and insecurity. Funds provide food, water, shelter, health care, and protection.In 2022, U.S. humanitarian assistance, totaling $1.3 billion, helped avert famine in Somalia.Rescinding IDA funding cripples U.S. capacity to respond to disasters and emergencies. Without this funding, vulnerable groups could lose access to lifesaving aid, increasing the likelihood of displacement, instability, and preventable deaths.

Migration and Refugee Assistance (MRA)$800MDelivers life-sustaining aid to refugees globally, including supporting the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program with refugee admission, reception, and resettlement in the United States.Refugees and asylees contributed to a net fiscal gain of $123.8 billion from 2005 to 2019.

Since 2017, the United States has provided 1 million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh with more than $2.4 billion in assistance, including food, health care, shelter, and protection.Rescinding MRA funding means fewer and weaker U.S. tools for managing displacement crises, leaving countries with fewer resources and increasing the likelihood of destabilizing migration flows.

Economic Support Fund (ESF)$1.7BProvides assistance to U.S. strategic countries, supporting immediate long-term political, economic, development, and security needs.In El Salvador, the ESF-funded Bridges to Employment program trained 11,930 vulnerable youth, with more than 12,000 securing new jobs—4,708 of whom improved their employment status.Rescinding ESF funding slashes programs that stabilize fragile states, expand private sector growth, and support energy access, justice reform, and civil society resilience.

Assistance for Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia (AEECA)$460MFunds support reforms to solidify democratic institutions, economic growth, and energy independence in post-communist countries from Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.In 2021, AEECA helped Kazakhstan strengthen anti-money laundering and counterterrorist financing policies in line with global standards.

In 2022, AEECA aided Georgia’s democratization, bolstered civil society and independent media, and built resilience against Kremlin influence.Rescinding AEECA funds significantly weakens efforts to strengthen democracy, anti-corruption, and media programs, reversing democratic gains and enabling authoritarian influence to grow.

Transition Initiatives (TI)$57MProvides urgent short-term aid to countries in political transition.In Colombia, TI supported peace-focused information campaigns, small infrastructure projects in conflict-affected areas, inclusive development planning, and strategic technical assistance to public agencies, helping implement the 2016 peace accords.

Following Armenia’s 2018 Velvet Revolution, TI supported Armenia’s democratic transition by providing technical assistance, equipment, and training to local and national institutions.Rescinding TI funding means the United States loses its ability to quickly support peace efforts, defuse political tensions, and keep communities from turning to violence.

Complex Crisis Fund (CCF)$43MRapid response pool deployed at the first warning signs of conflict.The CCF helped rebuild Marawi City in the Philippines after the 2017 siege by delivering cash aid to 3,700 families, supporting 1,000 entrepreneurs, and assisting 14,000 residents.Rescinding CCF funds eliminates targeted support in fragile settings before crises erupt, increasing the risk of coups, violence, and costlier interventions later.

Democracy Fund$83MFunds nonpartisan support for free and fair elections, independent media, rule of law, and civil society development, particularly in countries transitioning from authoritarian rule.U.S.-backed election programs fostered peaceful, credible 2023 elections in Nigeria with record youth turnout.Rescinding funds ends support for independent media, free elections, and civil society, undermining democratic efforts and progress.

Contributions to International Organizations (CIO)$202MFunds the assessed contributions to the World Health Organization (WHO), International Atomic Energy Agency, and other United Nations-affiliated agencies.Since March 2024, the United States has contributed more than $22 million to WHO-led mpox response efforts, supporting vaccine delivery and health capacity in six African countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to contain the outbreak.Rescinding funds constrains U.S. ability to shape outcomes, disrupt continuity in multilateral negotiations, and create openings for strategic competitors to assert greater influence.

Peacekeeping (CIPA)$361MSupports U.N. peacekeeping and helps stabilize conflict zones by protecting civilians, enabling aid, disarming combatants, training police, preserving peace agreements, and supporting free elections.U.S. funding covers approximately 25 percent of U.N. peacekeeping missions.

U.N. missions cost the United States about one-eighth as much as deploying American troops for similar operations.

The United Nations Mission in Liberia disarmed more than 100,000 ex-combatants and enabled 1 million refugees to return home. It rebuilt Liberia’s security forces and supported democratic elections.Rescinding CIPA funds disrupts U.S.-supported U.N. missions that prevent conflict escalation, including, for example, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon mission in Lebanon, which is targeted in the rescission package.

Clean Technology Fund (CTF)$125MPartners with multilateral development banks to fund high-impact clean energy projects in low-income countries and take on more risk, enter new markets, and attract private capital. These investments help countries transition from coal to renewables and curb emissions growth.Morocco’s Noor concentrated solar power plants, backed by a total of $435 million in highly concessional finance, power 1 million people and cut 2.5 million tons of oil imports annually.Rescinding CTF funds stalls renewable energy transitions. It would weaken U.S. partnerships and reduce market access.

U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP)$15MSupports peacebuilding, ceasefire talks, and negotiations. Trains civil society leaders, security forces, diplomats, and youth from dozens of countries in conflict resolution.In Mahmoudiya, Iraq, USIP facilitated a Tribal peace agreement that endured for a decade.Rescinding USIP funding degrades conflict prevention and peacebuilding programming. Its “Track 2” efforts extend U.S. diplomacy and help prevent conflicts that could require U.S. military action.

Inter-American Foundation (IAF)$27MInvests directly in community-led projects across Latin America and the Caribbean. Grants support initiatives such as sustainable farming, artisan cooperatives, youth job training, and indigenous conservation efforts.IAF grantees mobilize an average of $1.30 in local resources for every $1 of U.S. funding.

IAF funds a local nonprofit supporting climate-smart agriculture in Haiti, raising yam yields by 35 percent and increasing household income.Rescinding IAF funding halts grassroots development programs that reduce poverty, strengthen community resilience, and address the root causes of migration in Latin America and the Caribbean.

U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF)$22MProvides small grants directly to African grassroots businesses and farmer cooperatives, prioritizing underserved communities. Grants support enterprises in agriculture, off-grid energy, youth employment, and women’s economic empowermentMore than 90 percent of USADF grantees continue operations after initial funding ends, according to a 2017 audit report.

In Somalia, USADF-funded vocational training helped 6,000 youth secure employment, raising incomes from $50 per month to $300 per month.Rescinding ADF funds erodes U.S. influence, increases instability, and allows competitors such as China to consolidate strategic ground across the continent.

International Organizations and Programs (IOP)$437MProvides voluntary contributions to international organizations such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Population Fund, and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.In 2022, U.S. contributions enabled UNICEF to deliver more than 68,000 metric tons of therapeutic food across 64 countries, enough to treat 5.1 million children for severe malnutrition.Rescinding IOP funds guts programs that protect human rights, civilians, and women. Without U.S. backing, these programs risk being sidelined and underfunded at a time when global conflict, repression, and displacement are intensifying.

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https://www.americanprogress.org/article/10-egregious-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-act/   READ

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WE HAVE ONE MORE TRY

TO STOP TRUMP'S AWFUL, UGLY AND DISGUSTING

BUDGET CUTS.  

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