The Trump administration is moving to rescind nearly $1 billion in federal spending it describes as “wasteful” and harmful, with funding for immigrant and migrant services among the major targets in the latest White House spending-cut package.
The largest portion of the package is $567 million in HHS funding for services to non-citizens.
President Donald Trump announced the latest “pocket rescission” package on September 25, saying the action would eliminate spending the administration considers wasteful or harmful and save taxpayer money. The White House said Trump is using authority under the Impoundment Control Act and described the move as a continuation of a similar action taken last year. The funds supported programs and non-governmental organizations providing services to refugees, asylum seekers and other non-citizens, according to the White House .
The administration cited grants to organizations including Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, Southwest Key Programs and Endeavors Inc. as examples of funding being rescinded. Another $10 million in DHS programs is included in the package. Another $9 million is being targeted from a Treasury program involving debt relief for foreign countries. The White House said the overall package represents nearly $1 billion in spending cuts aimed at what it describes as wasteful or harmful government programs.
The administration said those programs provided funding to organizations offering legal services to undocumented immigrants and assistance related to the US immigration system. The administration said the program funded climate-related investments abroad and did not provide a direct benefit to US taxpayers.
