Pocket Rescission Targets International Education Funding

Just days before the September 30 end to the 2026 fiscal year, President Trump sent an $810 million rescissions package to Congress that included the termination of $70 million in International Education program funding from Title VI of the Higher Education Act.

The rescissions package would eliminate nearly all funding in the International Education and Foreign Language, Domestic Programs (IEFL Domestic) account, with only funds that have already been obligated being spared. This program provides funding to institutions to broaden foreign language instruction, especially in languages of strategic importance to national security. The administration justifies the rescission saying, “the program has deviated from the core mission and instead supports woke and wasteful projects.” Competitions have been held and awards have been promised to institutions to offer these programs, but the administration’s proposal would withhold the promised funds and return them to the Treasury Department.

This pocket rescission will squeeze Congress by not allowing the 45 days for review, as is the regular process for a rescissions package put forth by the Executive Branch. While the Government Accountability Office says pocket rescissions are illegal, the funding cuts still went into effect on October 1. The House is out of session until after the midterm elections and the Senate is scheduled to break this week, so there was no time for Congress to reject the proposed cuts prior to September 30.

At the end of FY 2025, the administration cut funding to International Education programs and redistributed it to fund Historically Black Colleges and Universities, which at the time was allowed under the Higher Education Account in the appropriations bill. In FY 2026, Congress made sure to specify funding levels for the International Education program rather than lump multiple programs under one larger allocation to prevent moving funds around as happened in FY 2025. 

There has been bipartisan opposition to the rescission package and promises from congressional leaders to address the funding levels in the lame duck session. Additionally, seven state Attorney’s General, led by California, filed a lawsuit against the administration late on September 30 seeking to stop the rescission of funds.

For more information, please contact:
Stephanie Giesecke