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Reuters
4 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Trump funding delays testing Congress' power may be intensified. How will Republicans respond?
WASHINGTON, Aug 15 (Reuters) - The Trump administration's tug-of-war with Congress this year over spending delays of approved federal money could intensify as soon as this week, as the White House weighs a rare maneuver to permanently withhold some federal funding. The tactic -- called a pocket rescission -- has been criticized by a handful of Republican senators as it would essentially cancel congressionally authorized funding without a vote from lawmakers. The funding in question is due to expire at the end of the fiscal year on September 30. The administration could indicate as soon as Friday what it plans to do with the remaining money that has not yet been made available to grantees. The White House Budget Office did not respond to a request for comment. It is unclear whether Congress will object. The U.S. Constitution grants Congress control over spending, but Republicans who control both the House of Representatives and the Senate have broadly supported the administration's unilateral freezes of foreign aid and domestic spending so far. With little Republican objection, several funding programs have been delayed for months. The Government Accountability Office, Congress' independent watchdog agency, ruled this summer that $100 million in federal library funding -- meant to expand services on top of local dollars -- was unlawfully "impounded" and held up by the administration since March. Funding for a Montana children's paleontology education program has remained frozen, as well as copyright and AI research, and librarian training assistance started by former Republican first lady Laura Bush, in Louisiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina and Pennsylvania, according to grantees. If it wanted, Congress could consider the funding cuts in committee hearings and vote on the provision. Republican senators Susan Collins from Maine and Lisa Murkowski from Alaska have objected, but other Republican lawmakers have not spoken out. "As a Republican myself, I would love to hear more from my team on this," said Sam Helmick, president of the American Library Association. Republicans on occasion have pushed the administration to release other frozen funding. Ten of the Senate's 53 Republicans successfully urged White House budget director Russ Vought in July to release $6 billion in education funds, while 14 Republicans pushed to release National Institutes of Health research funding. "We need our Republican colleagues to join us in insisting that all blocked funding gets out -- not just the programs most important to them,' Senator Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Appropriations committee, said last month. But other Republicans have encouraged the administration's funding delays. "I want to spend less, not more," Senator Jim Banks, an Indiana Republican, said. Democrats say the administration has withheld more than $420 billion in funding that was passed on a bipartisan basis in a stopgap funding bill and signed into law by Trump in March. Emory University law professor Matthew Lawrence said the delays are unprecedented in modern times and make the government less accountable to its citizens. 'You know your representative to call and voice your concerns on spending," he said. "But if the power is President Trump's ... I don't know how to do that, nor do my neighbors.' Top Republicans have often sidestepped the funding power fight and said the federal courts -- where there have been more than 60 spending-related cases -- will decide the legality of these delays. Collins, who oversees spending as the top Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee, says the best way to assert congressional power is to pass funding bills for the upcoming fiscal year. But some Democrats say that is pointless if the Trump administration will not honor them. 'The budget isn't worth the paper that we write it on if they're just going to refuse to spend on things that matter to Democrats," Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut told reporters. Vought, the White House budget director, has said these freezes are for 'programmatic review,' a technical term that allows administration to pause and analyze spending. However, the GAO rulings said the delays are not 'permissible." Four other program funds have been ruled as unlawfully impounded by the GAO, and it is investigating 40 other programs facing delays. Vought told reporters in June that the pocket tactic does not require approval from Congress -- a change from the administration's prior approach, when it sought and won approval in July to cancel $9 billion for foreign aid and public media. Collins, Murkowski and Republican Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota have said they oppose a pocket rescission, but others have said they do not object. "We support rescissions in whatever form they could come to us,' House Speaker Mike Johnson said in July.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Trump could soon challenge Congress with rare funding cancellation
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads UNPRECEDENTED SCOPE END-OF-YEAR WITHHOLDING? The Trump administration's tug-of-war with Congress this year over spending delays of approved federal money could intensify as soon as this week, as the White House weighs a rare maneuver to permanently withhold some federal funding The tactic -- called a pocket rescission -- has been criticized by a handful of Republican senators as it would essentially cancel congressionally authorized funding without a vote from lawmakers. The funding in question is due to expire at the end of the fiscal year on September administration could indicate as soon as Friday what it plans to do with the remaining money that has not yet been made available to grantees. The White House Budget Office did not respond to a request for is unclear whether Congress will object. The U.S. Constitution grants Congress control over spending, but Republicans who control both the House of Representatives and the Senate have broadly supported the administration's unilateral freezes of foreign aid and domestic spending so little Republican objection, several funding programs have been delayed for Government Accountability Office , Congress' independent watchdog agency, ruled this summer that $100 million in federal library funding -- meant to expand services on top of local dollars -- was unlawfully "impounded" and held up by the administration since for a Montana children's paleontology education program has remained frozen, as well as copyright and AI research, and librarian training assistance started by former Republican first lady Laura Bush, in Louisiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina and Pennsylvania, according to it wanted, Congress could consider the funding cuts in committee hearings and vote on the provision. Republican senators Susan Collins from Maine and Lisa Murkowski from Alaska have objected, but other Republican lawmakers have not spoken out."As a Republican myself, I would love to hear more from my team on this," said Sam Helmick, president of the American Library Association Republicans on occasion have pushed the administration to release other frozen funding. Ten of the Senate's 53 Republicans successfully urged White House budget director Russ Vought in July to release $6 billion in education funds, while 14 Republicans pushed to release National Institutes of Health research funding."We need our Republican colleagues to join us in insisting that all blocked funding gets out -- not just the programs most important to them," Senator Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Appropriations committee, said last other Republicans have encouraged the administration's funding delays."I want to spend less, not more," Senator Jim Banks, an Indiana Republican, say the administration has withheld more than $420 billion in funding that was passed on a bipartisan basis in a stopgap funding bill and signed into law by Trump in University law professor Matthew Lawrence said the delays are unprecedented in modern times and make the government less accountable to its citizens."You know your representative to call and voice your concerns on spending," he said. "But if the power is President Trump's ... I don't know how to do that, nor do my neighbors." Top Republicans have often sidestepped the funding power fight and said the federal courts -- where there have been more than 60 spending-related cases -- will decide the legality of these who oversees spending as the top Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee, says the best way to assert congressional power is to pass funding bills for the upcoming fiscal some Democrats say that is pointless if the Trump administration will not honor them."The budget isn't worth the paper that we write it on if they're just going to refuse to spend on things that matter to Democrats," Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut told the White House budget director, has said these freezes are for "programmatic review," a technical term that allows administration to pause and analyze the GAO rulings said the delays are not "permissible."Four other program funds have been ruled as unlawfully impounded by the GAO, and it is investigating 40 other programs facing delays. Vought told reporters in June that the pocket tactic does not require approval from Congress -- a change from the administration's prior approach, when it sought and won approval in July to cancel $9 billion for foreign aid and public Murkowski and Republican Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota have said they oppose a pocket rescission, but others have said they do not object."We support rescissions in whatever form they could come to us," House Speaker Mike Johnson said in July.
Yahoo
07-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jenna Bush Hager Shares Her Dream 'Next Chapter' After Her Time on 'Today' 'Comes to a Close'
The Texas native said she's long had a vision for her and her family about life after the 'Today' show Jenna Bush Hager is thinking ahead. The 43-year-old Today with Jenna & Friends co-host opened up about her dream plans for her 'next chapter' after leaving the Today show. 'I have this sort of dream — I just think everybody should have chapters in their lives — I have a dream — I don't know how realistic it is — but when the Jenna & Friends chapter comes to a close…' Bush Hager began on the Wednesday, Aug. 6 episode of the show. 'Well, why would that ever happen?' guest co-host Matt Rogers cut in. 'Well.. linear television, baby!' Bush Hager said, laughing and shrugging. 'Who knows? But when I'm ready to go to my next chapter, I think it would be so nice to move back to Texas and let my kids — I went to a big public high school — have a different life.' The conversation came when Bush Hager and Rogers were discussing whether they'd ever consider moving back to their hometown. The daughter of former President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush grew up in Austin, Texas, and said she'd happily return to the city to raise her three kids with husband Henry Hager. 'Isn't Austin great? I love Austin,' Bush Hager, who is a mom to daughters Mila, 12, Poppy, 9, and son Hal, 6, gushed. The morning show host has already tried to instill some of her Texas childhood experiences in her three kids. Earlier this summer, while discussing the tragic flooding in Kerrville, Texas, Bush Hager revealed that she sends her kids to Texas camps every summer. She said that after her husband Henry asked why they sent their kids all the way to Texas, she replied, 'Because of the love that's there,' adding, 'Texas camps are institutions.' Bush Hager joined the Today show as a correspondent in 2009. In 2019, she began co-anchoring the show's fourth hour alongside Hoda Kotb after Kathie Lee Gifford's exit. The pair co-hosted Today with Hoda & Jenna together until this past January, when Kotb left Today to focus on her daughters, Haley and Hope, and her new wellness venture. Since Kotb's exit, Bush Hager has had a series of celebrity guest co-hosts while keeping an eye out for a permanent replacement. "We're still searching," Bush Hager told PEOPLE in June. "We definitely want somebody permanent at some point just because that's our show, and I think the Today show is such a family." "So to have somebody sit in that seat means a lot to all of us. So it will happen," she continued. "I think we've all just been kind of living day by day and we don't have any developments yet, but we will." Read the original article on People Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
25-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kinetic Supports Local Youth by Donating Back-to-School Resources to the Fort Bend Rainbow Room
Kinetic sponsored 20 children's back-to-school needs with a donation to the Fort Bend Rainbow Room The Rainbow Room is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping youth and families in times of need SUGAR LAND, Texas, July 25, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kinetic, a local residential and business fiber internet provider, has donated necessary back-to-school supplies to the Fort Bend Rainbow Room in a powerful show of community support. The Rainbow Room will use the donations to help support the emergency and transitional services and supplies they provide for children, families and adults in partnership with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. The Fort Bend Rainbow Room is a nonprofit organization that was established by former First Lady Laura Bush in 1998. It is a resource room stocked with snacks, unopened diapers, unused school supplies, new clothes, toiletries, toys and other items frequently needed to meet the needs of families in crisis and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This donation comes as families prepare for the upcoming school year and children served by the Rainbow Room potentially face uncertainty and hardship. Kinetic's contribution includes shirts, pants, jackets and other essential items, as well as resources, helping these students walk into the classroom confident and ready to learn. "We're proud to support the Fort Bend Rainbow Room in their mission to provide stability and comfort to vulnerable children, youth and adults across Fort Bend," said Danny Ferguson, president of Kinetic Operations in Texas. "At Kinetic, community matters. We believe every child deserves the opportunity to succeed—especially in the classroom." In addition to providing clothing, Kinetic made a donation to the Rainbow Room's Back-to-School Project, ensuring up to 20 children will receive a full school sponsorship. Each sponsorship provides students with four uniform shirts, four pairs of uniform pants, shoes, socks, underwear, a package of school supplies and a backpack, helping them start the school year off on the right foot. "The Fort Bend Rainbow Room serves hundreds of children annually, and back-to-school donations like this make a lasting impact on their emotional and academic well-being," said Colleen Fox, the Rainbow Room's community programs manager. "Partners like Kinetic help us bring hope and tangible support to children who need it most." Throughout the year, the Fort Bend Rainbow Room offers various programs where local organizations and communities can get involved to ensure local children and families have what they need. The Rainbow Room hosts events like golf and bowling tournaments, luncheons and donation drives during back-to-school and Christmas to help raise awareness of the importance of year-round donation opportunities. A full list of programs, wish lists, events and more can be found on its website. Kinetic's donation is part of the company's broader mission to be more than an internet provider—it strives to be a true community partner. About Kinetic: Kinetic, a Windstream company, offers fiber-based broadband to residential and small business customers in 18 states. The company's quality-first approach connects customers to new opportunities and possibilities by delivering a full suite of advanced communications services. Kinetic is one of three brands managed by Windstream. The company also offers managed cloud communications and security services to mid-to-large enterprises and government entities across the U.S. as well as customized wavelength and dark fiber solutions to carriers, content providers and hyperscalers in the U.S. and Canada. Windstream is a privately held company headquartered in Little Rock, Ark. Additional information about Kinetic is available at or About FBRR: Fort Bend Rainbow Room is a resource room stocked with snacks, diapers, school supplies, clothes, toiletries, toys and other items frequently needed to meet the emergency needs of families in crisis. Our philosophy is that abused and neglected children and adults do not deserve used items, so only new items are stocked. Getting new items can have a significant impact on the children in helping them feel cared for and fit in with their peers at school. The Room is available to caseworkers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for any of our clients. Prior to the establishment of Fort Bend Rainbow Room, local caseworkers frequently used their own funds to meet these needs, while waiting for permanent funding solutions. Many of these expenditures were not reimbursable; nevertheless, most caseworkers could not refuse to clothe or feed hungry children that had just been rescued from abusive and/or neglectful homes. Rainbow Room is able to meet these immediate needs with support from the community. For more information, please visit our website at Category: Kinetic View source version on Contacts Victoria
Business Wire
25-07-2025
- General
- Business Wire
Kinetic Supports Local Youth by Donating Back-to-School Resources to the Fort Bend Rainbow Room
SUGAR LAND, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kinetic, a local residential and business fiber internet provider, has donated necessary back-to-school supplies to the Fort Bend Rainbow Room in a powerful show of community support. The Rainbow Room will use the donations to help support the emergency and transitional services and supplies they provide for children, families and adults in partnership with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. The Fort Bend Rainbow Room is a nonprofit organization that was established by former First Lady Laura Bush in 1998. It is a resource room stocked with snacks, unopened diapers, unused school supplies, new clothes, toiletries, toys and other items frequently needed to meet the needs of families in crisis and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This donation comes as families prepare for the upcoming school year and children served by the Rainbow Room potentially face uncertainty and hardship. Kinetic's contribution includes shirts, pants, jackets and other essential items, as well as resources, helping these students walk into the classroom confident and ready to learn. 'We're proud to support the Fort Bend Rainbow Room in their mission to provide stability and comfort to vulnerable children, youth and adults across Fort Bend,' said Danny Ferguson, president of Kinetic Operations in Texas. 'At Kinetic, community matters. We believe every child deserves the opportunity to succeed—especially in the classroom.' In addition to providing clothing, Kinetic made a donation to the Rainbow Room's Back-to-School Project, ensuring up to 20 children will receive a full school sponsorship. Each sponsorship provides students with four uniform shirts, four pairs of uniform pants, shoes, socks, underwear, a package of school supplies and a backpack, helping them start the school year off on the right foot. 'The Fort Bend Rainbow Room serves hundreds of children annually, and back-to-school donations like this make a lasting impact on their emotional and academic well-being,' said Colleen Fox, the Rainbow Room's community programs manager. 'Partners like Kinetic help us bring hope and tangible support to children who need it most.' Throughout the year, the Fort Bend Rainbow Room offers various programs where local organizations and communities can get involved to ensure local children and families have what they need. The Rainbow Room hosts events like golf and bowling tournaments, luncheons and donation drives during back-to-school and Christmas to help raise awareness of the importance of year-round donation opportunities. A full list of programs, wish lists, events and more can be found on its website. Kinetic's donation is part of the company's broader mission to be more than an internet provider—it strives to be a true community partner. About Kinetic: Kinetic, a Windstream company, offers fiber-based broadband to residential and small business customers in 18 states. The company's quality-first approach connects customers to new opportunities and possibilities by delivering a full suite of advanced communications services. Kinetic is one of three brands managed by Windstream. The company also offers managed cloud communications and security services to mid-to-large enterprises and government entities across the U.S. as well as customized wavelength and dark fiber solutions to carriers, content providers and hyperscalers in the U.S. and Canada. Windstream is a privately held company headquartered in Little Rock, Ark. Additional information about Kinetic is available at or About FBRR: Fort Bend Rainbow Room is a resource room stocked with snacks, diapers, school supplies, clothes, toiletries, toys and other items frequently needed to meet the emergency needs of families in crisis. Our philosophy is that abused and neglected children and adults do not deserve used items, so only new items are stocked. Getting new items can have a significant impact on the children in helping them feel cared for and fit in with their peers at school. The Room is available to caseworkers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for any of our clients. Prior to the establishment of Fort Bend Rainbow Room, local caseworkers frequently used their own funds to meet these needs, while waiting for permanent funding solutions. Many of these expenditures were not reimbursable; nevertheless, most caseworkers could not refuse to clothe or feed hungry children that had just been rescued from abusive and/or neglectful homes. Rainbow Room is able to meet these immediate needs with support from the community. For more information, please visit our website at Category: Kinetic
