On May 29, 2025, President Trump sent a $9.4 billion rescissions request to Congress, which House Majority Leader Scalise introduced as H.R. 4. This package would cancel funding for the U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Institute for Peace, and some Department of State foreign aid programs. House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole described consideration of the cuts as a “test case” for Congress’s appetite for codifying Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts. Should this bill successfully pass both chambers, additional bills codifying the DOGE cuts could follow.
The rule for consideration of H.R. 4 also included tweaks to H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The changes were made to ensure the bill complies with the Byrd Rule, following feedback from the Senate parliamentarian. The rule resolution passed in the Rules Committee by 8-4 on Tuesday evening. On Wednesday, June 11, the House adopted the procedural rule on a party-line vote of 213-207 to open debate on Thursday. Chair Virginia Foxx stated that no new provisions were added – just corrections and several deleted provisions to ensure the bill passed the Senate. H.R. 4 passed the House on Thursday, June 12, by a vote of 214-212.
What are rescissions?
While the Constitution clearly states that only Congress can authorize spending through its power of the purse, it is unclear whether the president must spend or spend all the funds allocated by Congress. When President Richard Nixon refused to fund social programs, breaking with long-held precedent, Congress passed the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974. This bill created the rescissions process, which allows the president to seek congressional approval to cancel funding for a government program or agency.
How does the process work?
The president first sends a “special message” to Congress to cancel specific appropriations that have not yet been obligated. Any member may offer a bill with the text of the request. Congress has 45 days, not including long recesses, to consider the request, which cannot be filibustered and only requires a simple majority in each chamber to pass. If the bill passes both chambers, the funds are cancelled. If Congress does nothing with the request and the 45 day period ends, the president must spend the funds. The president may not submit the same request twice.
What is rescinded in H.R. 4?
- $33 million of the $1.5 billion appropriated in fiscal year 2024 (FY24) for the Contributions to International Organizations (CIO) account. This is consistent with Executive Order (EO) 14199, “Withdrawing the United States from and Ending Funding to Certain United Nations Organizations and Reviewing United States Support to All International Organizations.”
- $169 million of the $1.5 billion appropriated in FY25 for the CIO account, eliminating funding for the World Health Organization and UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). This is consistent with EO 14155, “Withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization,” and EO 14199, “Withdrawing the United States from and Ending Funding to Certain United Nations.”
- $158 million of $1.2 billion appropriated in FY25 for Contributions for International Peacekeeping Activities.
- $203 million of the $1.4 billion appropriated in FY24 and $158 million of the $1.2 billion appropriated in FY25 for the Contributions for International Peacekeeping Activities account.
- $437 million, the entire amount appropriated in FY25, for International Organizations and Programs, which funds voluntary contributions to international organizations.
- $800 million of the $3.2 billion appropriated in FY25 for Migration and Refugee Assistance.
- $43 million of the $55 million appropriated in FY25 for the Complex Crises Fund.
- $83 million of the $345 million appropriated in FY25 for the Democracy Fund.
- $1.7 billion of the $3.6 billion appropriated in FY25 for the Economic Support Fund.
- $125 million, the full amount appropriated in FY25 for the Clean Technology Fund. This is consistent with EO 14162, “Putting America First in International Environmental Agreements.”
- USAID
- $500 million of the $4 billion appropriated in FY25 for Global Health Programs for family planning and reproductive health, LGBTQI+ activities and equity programs.
- $400 million of the $6 billion appropriated in FY25 for global health programs.
- $2.5 billion of the $3.9 billion appropriated in FY25 for Development Assistance.
- $460 million, the full amount appropriated in FY25 for the Assistance for Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia (AEECA).
- $496 million of $4 billion appropriated in FY25 to the International Disaster Assistance (IDA).
- $125 million of the $1.7 billion appropriated in FY25 for USAID Operating Expenses.
- $57 million of the $75 million appropriated in FY25 for the Transition Initiatives (TI) account.
- $27 million of the $47 million appropriated for the Inter-American Foundation in FY25. This is consistent with EO 14217, “Commencing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy.”
- $22 million of the $45 million appropriated in FY25 for the African Development Foundation. This is consistent with EO 14217, “Commencing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy.”
- $15 million of the $55 million appropriated in FY25 for the U.S. Institute of Peace. This is consistent with EO 14217, “Commencing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy.”
- Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB)
- $535 million, the full amount appropriated in FY24 for FY26.
- $535 million, the full amount appropriated in FY25 for FY27.
What changes were made to H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act?
- Strikes a provision to increase penalties for firms promoting the employee retention tax credit that understated the tax liability of the client.
- Amends the language of onshore oil and gas lease sales to clarify the land use plans terms and conditions.
- Strikes the reinstatement of leases for a proposed copper and nickel mine in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
- Removes “intelligence” capabilities referenced under the Armed Services title.
- Strikes the extension of the Agriculture Department’s Biobased Markets Program through fiscal year 2031.
- Removes all references to the Social Security Act in the Energy and Commerce title’s Medicaid and other health care provisions
- Removes $2 billion for the enhancement of military intelligence programs.
- Removes $500 million for the development, procurement and integration of maritime mines.
- Removes $500 million for the development, procurement and integration of exportable low-cost cruise missiles.
- Removes $62 million to convert Ohio class submarine tubes to accept additional missiles.
