Congressional Appropriation

23 States Sue Trump Administration Over $12 Billion in Public Health Cuts

Twenty-three states and Washington, D.C., are suing the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over the unlawful rescission of $12 billion in public health funding. The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order to halt the cuts, which will reportedly eliminate crucial public health services and cost thousands of healthcare jobs. The states argue that the funds, while initially allocated during the COVID-19 pandemic, supported long-term public health infrastructure and were not solely for pandemic response. The plaintiffs contend that HHS lacks the authority to unilaterally rescind congressionally appropriated funds, thereby undermining the legislative branch’s power.

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Supreme Court Rejects Trump’s Bid to Block $2 Billion in Foreign Aid

The Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision to deny the Trump administration’s request to cancel nearly $2 billion in foreign aid represents a significant legal hurdle for the administration’s attempts to drastically alter federal spending. This ruling underscores the principle that Congress, not the executive branch, holds the power of the purse.

The core issue revolved around the administration’s effort to unilaterally withhold funds already allocated by Congress through existing contracts. Justice Alito, in a dissenting opinion joined by three other justices, expressed strong disagreement with the majority’s decision, questioning the authority of a single district court judge to compel the release of such a substantial sum.… Continue reading