President Donald Trump on Thursday moved to cancel nearly $5 billion in foreign aid and international peacekeeping funds through a rarely used move known as a “pocket rescission,” setting up a potential legal and political clash over Congress’ constitutional power of the purse.

The White House informed lawmakers Thursday night that it would claw back $4.9 billion in previously approved spending. The package includes billions in development aid through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), State Department contributions to democracy programs, and U.N. peacekeeping operations in Africa.

The news was first reported by the New York Post.

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Administration officials have defended the cuts by pointing to what they call wasteful allocations, with their ire particularly f

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