President Trump, facing criticism that budget deficits and the size of the federal government are once again ballooning under the Republicans’ watch, is dusting off an obscure legal provision that allows to him to propose new fast-tracked spending cuts.
Title X of the 1974 Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act allows the president to ask Congress to rescind funding it has already approved. This power went unused under the last two administrations, but Trump unveiled a $15.4 billion rescission package — hailed by his Office of Management and Budget as the largest single request ever proposed — and the White House promised there would be more to come.
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