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News Topical, Digital Desk : President Donald Trump's administration has appealed to the US Supreme Court to intervene to stop foreign aid approved by Congress during the tenure of the previous government.
The administration says that this can save billions of dollars. It is worth noting that Washington-based US court judge Amir Ali had ordered the administration officials to release four billion dollars as foreign aid. According to the lawyer of the plaintiff who challenged Trump's move, the Justice Department has appealed to the Supreme Court to stay this decision.
What was said in the petition?
In its petition, the Justice Department said that the controversial foreign aid worth four billion dollars is against the foreign policy of the US. The US Congress had approved the foreign aid for United Nations peacekeeping operations and efforts to promote democracy around the world.
Congress budgeted billions of dollars for foreign aid last year, of which $11 billion must be spent or paid before the deadline of September 30. After the lawsuit was filed, the administration said it would spend only $6.5 billion of this amount.
'Trump tried to stop the funding'
Trump, bypassing Congress, used a privilege called 'pocket recession' and tried to stop the additional four billion dollars in funding. Judge Ali had said on September 3 that the administration cannot stop the money just like that. For this, the law will have to be changed.
At the same time, Trump's budget director Russell Watt has argued that the President can withhold funds for 45 days after requesting the budget cancellation, which will last till the end of the financial year.
The White House said the tactic was last used in 1977. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled 2-1 on Sept. 5 to refuse to block Ali's order, after which the administration appealed to the Supreme Court.
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