By Bo Erickson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Donald Trump has moved to unilaterally cancel $4.9 billion in federal funding authorized by Congress, escalating the fight over who controls the nation’s spending.

In a letter posted online late Thursday, Trump told House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson that he plans to withhold funding for 15 international programs, including some overseen by the State Department, the Agency for International Development (USAID).

The U.S. Constitution grants funding power to Congress, which every year has to pass legislation to fund government operations.

The White House must secure Congress’ approval if it does not want to spend that money. Congress did this in July when it canceled $9 billion in foreign aid and public media funding.

Trump budge

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