The White House has decided not to request a second round of budget rescissions, a controversial move allowing lawmakers to claw back spending authority, according to key senators.
The rumored $3 billion rescissions package had been controversial, reportedly homing in on foreign aid dollars.
{mosads}”My understanding is that it’s dead,” said Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.).
One reason the package was unpopular among lawmakers is that it would have effectively blocked funds approved by Congress from going out the door.
A rescission request would have prevented agencies from spending any of the dollars in question for 45 days. Because the fiscal year ends on Sept. 30, it would prevent the funds from being spent at all.
“This is a welcome decision,” said Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) the ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
“Rescinding funds that had been agreed to by Congress and signed into law by the president, in the waning days of the fiscal year, would have set a terrible precedent and harmed programs that further United States interests around the world,” he added.
Leahy said a new request would have thrown a wrench into the appropriations process for 2019, which is currently underway. Congressional leaders are hoping to send nine of the 12 annual spending packages to President Trump’s desk before the end of the fiscal year.
Trump has threatened to shut down the government this fall if Congress does not allocate sufficient funds for his proposed southern border wall.
Earlier in the year, Congress decided not to act on an initial request to rescind $15 billion in spending authority, which largely targeted funds for programs that were no longer authorized or funds that were not expected to be used.
The White House Office of Management and Budget did not immediately respond to request for comment.
— Jordain Carney contributed to this report.