Congress seethes over Trump’s $5 billion clawback that risks a government shutdown

Published September 3, 2025 5:00am ET



Senate Republicans returned to Washington Tuesday from summer break, facing warnings from within that the White House’s clawback of spending passed by Congress could jeopardize a fast-approaching shutdown deadline.

GOP critics of President Donald Trump’s nearly $5 billion “pocket” rescission for foreign aid said the controversial move, which some have suggested may flout the law, would do them no favors in winning over enough Democrats later this month to fund the government by Oct. 1.

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