In an attempt to further consolidate power in the Executive Branch, the Trump administration is considering using something called a "pocket rescission" to cancel congressionally approved funds without any approval from Congress.

Here is the basic idea behind pocket rescissions, which the Government Accountability Office (see here) and leading U.S. senators in both parties (see here) say are illegal:

1. First, the president sends a rescission package to Congress, asking them to cancel some funding that they already approved;
2. Second, when the president sends a rescission package to Congress, the funding in that package can be frozen for 45 days;
3. Third, because the fiscal year ends on September 30 every year, if the president sends a rescission package to Congress between August 17 and September 30, the idea is that the funds simply disappear no matter what Congress does as the fiscal year has ended with the funds frozen.

That's the thinking behind a "pocket rescission," anyway. Honestly, it reads like a load of nonsense, which is probably why both the GAO and multiple Republican U.S. senators say it is illegal. The Center for American Progress and the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities both agree.

"Pocket rescissions" are a crackpot legal theory cooked up by Trump's closest allies as a means to give him even more power. In this case, Trump's new powers would come at the expense of Congress, which the Constitution grants power over spending.

Please, take a minute to use this form to sign and send a short letter urging your U.S. senators to oppose pocket rescissions and to not voluntarily hand over even more congressional power to the Executive Branch.

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