Spending Money Congress Approved — Week of Jan 20, 2025

In the first week of the new administration, the President signed a series of executive orders that direct federal agencies to stop spending money Congress had already approved—across foreign aid, climate programs, international health contributions, and wind energy projects. Several of these orders instruct the Office of Management and Budget to freeze or rescind funds without going through the formal process that federal law requires when a president wants to cancel or delay spending.

This might matter because Congress's control over federal spending—often called "the power of the purse"—is one of the most fundamental checks in American government. If a president can unilaterally halt spending that Congress approved, it could weaken the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, the specific law that exists to prevent presidents from overriding Congress's spending decisions.

The most significant action was an executive order pausing all U.S. foreign development assistance for 90 days and directing OMB to enforce the freeze through its budget authority. Another order on climate agreements told OMB to issue guidance rescinding "all frozen funds" related to international climate finance within 10 days. A third order withdrawing from the World Health Organization paused fund transfers. A memorandum halting offshore wind leasing directed agencies to stop issuing loans for wind projects. Separately, the President confirmed firing multiple Inspectors General—the officials responsible for making sure agencies spend money properly.

There are important alternative explanations. Most likely, the administration views these as temporary administrative pauses during a standard policy review, and funds may ultimately flow or be formally sent to Congress for rescission through proper channels. It is also common for new presidents to reassess prior commitments and redirect spending priorities, and several of these orders cite national interest or security considerations as justifications. Additionally, some of these programs may involve discretionary funds where the executive branch has more flexibility. Courts could also narrow or block these actions through judicial review.

However, the scale is unusual: multiple orders across different policy areas all moved to freeze or cancel congressionally approved spending in the same week, and none referenced the legal process normally required.

Limitations: This analysis is based on AI review of published government documents. It does not reflect whether the administration has taken additional steps—such as submitting formal rescission requests to Congress—that would not appear in these records.