Trump is stealing the power of the purse and Congress is letting it happen.
Congress holds one of the most powerful tools in our democracy: control of the federal budget. But Congress is actually allowing Trump to call the shots on the budget through a shady loophole called “pocket rescissions.”
This loophole will allow the Trump administration to cancel nearly $5 billion in funding that Congress has already approved.
Why this matters:
The Constitution is clear: Only Congress has the power of the purse to raise taxes, allocate funds, and control government spending. It’s at the very core of what it means to be a republic.
Instead of standing up for their constitutional authority, Congress is pretending to be powerless, allowing Trump to abuse our system of checks and balances.
Congress is not powerless, just cowardly.
The Senate and House Appropriations Committee are some of the most powerful committees in Congress. They could quickly advance legislation to close budget loopholes and stop this abuse. But instead, they’re sitting on their hands while the Constitution is undermined.
Even Sen. Susan Collins, the chair of the Senate committee, admits:
“Article I of the Constitution makes clear that Congress has the responsibility for the power of the purse. Any effort to rescind appropriated funds without congressional approval is a clear violation of the law.”
We have to force Congress to act
Add your name now to demand that members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees use their power to defend the Constitution and stop the pocket rescission loophole.