United States: The Trump administration has withheld over $436.87 billion in congressionally approved federal funding, according to a report released Tuesday by Democratic appropriations leaders. The action affects nearly every sector of the federal government and has prompted strong criticism from lawmakers, as reported by Reuters.
According to Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) in their analysis, this policy breaks official spending standards while restricting Americans from vital resources and services.
Key Departments and Programs Impacted
Among the largest freezes:
- $42 billion at the State Department
- Over $62 billion in transportation infrastructure grants
- Suspension of USAID funding
Other affected programs include $943 million in Head Start early education funding and over $10 billion for the Natural Resources Conservation Service—both either frozen or eliminated.
Trump administration withholding $436.87-billion in approved spending, top Democrats say https://t.co/c5epiZNo2u
— The Globe and Mail (@globeandmail) April 29, 2025
Democrats Accuse Trump, Musk of Overreach
In a strongly worded statement, Murray and DeLauro said:
“Just 100 days into office, President Trump and Elon Musk are continuing their unprecedented assault on our nation’s spending laws. Families, small businesses, and communities across the country are paying the price.”
They allege this is the first time an administration has so openly ignored congressional authority over federal expenditures.
No Official Response from Administration
Neither the White House nor Elon Musk, who now oversees the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, have responded to media inquiries. Musk’s department has reportedly justified the budget freezes by citing efficiency reforms and the termination of federal diversity initiatives.
U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has so far withheld at least $436.87 billion of congressionally approved funding, the top Democrats on the U.S. Congress' appropriation committees said on Tuesday.https://t.co/4xQysOXEDO
— Bilyonaryo (@bilyonaryo_ph) April 29, 2025
Tracking System and Legal Concerns Introduced
Congressional committees plan to launch a public tracking platform to monitor and report on the suspended funds. Committee officials say the goal is to shed light on administrative actions they claim are delaying or obstructing legally approved spending, as reported by Reuters.
Experts and Lawmakers Cite Constitutional Violations
Legal experts and members of Congress argue that the funding freeze may violate the U.S. Constitution, which grants spending authority to Congress—not the executive branch. The 1974 Impoundment Control Act allows the president to request modest changes through a formal process called rescissions. However, the Trump administration has not submitted any such requests, despite calls from Republican and Democratic lawmakers alike.
Supreme Court decisions maintained limitations on presidential control of budget decisions thus raising doubts about the legality of the current executive freeze.