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Tue, January 28, 2025
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Trump memo to halt federal funds triggers confusion and constitutional questions


Published on 2025-01-28 13:20:39 - KPBS
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  • Washington is scrambling to interpret a new Trump administration memo that appears to halt funding for many programs. The impact of the short memo, released Monday, is causing widespread confusion.

The article from KPBS discusses a memo issued by former President Donald Trump, which proposed halting federal funds to certain entities, sparking widespread confusion and raising significant constitutional questions. The memo, which was intended to address what Trump described as "wasteful spending," suggested that the executive branch could unilaterally decide to withhold funds allocated by Congress, a move that many legal experts argue oversteps the separation of powers. Critics, including constitutional scholars, argue that this action would infringe on Congress's exclusive power of the purse, potentially violating the Constitution's Appropriations Clause. The memo has led to debates about the limits of presidential authority, with some supporters viewing it as a necessary measure to control spending, while opponents see it as an unconstitutional power grab. The confusion stems from the lack of clarity on which entities would be affected and the legal basis for such an action, prompting discussions on potential legal challenges and the implications for federal-state relations.

Read the Full KPBS Article at:
[ https://www.kpbs.org/news/politics/2025/01/28/trump-memo-to-halt-federal-funds-triggers-confusion-and-constitutional-questions ]
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