Sen. Susan Collins, the Maine Republican who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, says the Trump administration's latest $810 million spending cancellation breaks the law. About $600 million of the package comes from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including refugee assistance, federal patient safety research, and the Office of Minority Health.
The White House sent the rescission package to House Speaker Mike Johnson on Sept. 25, five days before the fiscal year ends on Sept. 30. The tactic is known as a "pocket rescission" because the money can expire before Congress has time to vote on the request. For health programs, the dispute is about more than procedure. It will help decide whether money Congress already approved reaches refugees, researchers, and community groups.
