All articles tagged with #congressional authority
President Trump has utilized a 'pocket rescission' to cancel $810 million in congressionally approved funding, targeting refugee services, education, and minority business programs. Lawmakers from both parties condemn the move as an illegal violation of the separation of powers, while the White House defends it under the Impoundment Control Act.
The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to allow construction of President Trump's $400 million White House ballroom to continue, citing a lack of legal standing for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Chief Justice John Roberts dissented, calling the project 'likely unlawful' and a violation of separation of powers. The ruling does not resolve the legality of the project but ensures construction will likely finish before any final legal judgment.
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the federal ban of bump stocks, with conservative justices expressing concerns about the ban's enforcement and questioning why Congress didn't act on the issue. Liberal justices focused on the potential damage caused by rifles equipped with bump stocks. Justice Elena Kagan emphasized the need for common sense in interpreting laws, while Justice Brett Kavanaugh raised concerns about people being prosecuted without awareness of the ban. The case challenges the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' authority to reclassify bump stocks as "machine guns" under the National Firearms Act.