• Trump seeks to cut nearly $5 billion in congressionally-approved foreign aid.
• The move raises the risk of a federal government shutdown.
• Democrats oppose Trump's legislative tactic labeled as illegal.
• Most cuts target the Department of State and USAID programs.
• Shutdowns could furlough up to 900,000 federal employees and disrupt government services.

US President Donald Trump has moved to cut nearly $5 billion in congressionally-approved foreign aid, raising the likelihood of a federal shutdown as Democrats oppose the policy. This funding reduction specifically targets programs of the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), as outlined in a letter Trump sent to the House of Representatives, according to lemonde, trtglobal, and channelnewsasia.

The strategy employs a legislative tactic known as a "pocket rescission," which some critics, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have labeled illegal. Schumer stated, "It's clear neither Trump nor Congressional Republicans have any plan to avoid a painful and entirely unnecessary shutdown," indicating significant pushback from Democrats against the proposed cuts, according to trtglobal and channelnewsasia.

Since taking office, Trump has effectively dismantled USAID, originally created to win over developing nations during the Cold War. The agency has faced significant funding cuts, and a White House official has indicated there’s a "solid legal basis" for these actions. Critics argue that the cuts could exacerbate global humanitarian crises, potentially leading to widespread consequences, including preventable deaths, according to lemonde and channelnewsasia.

Trump's proposal comes amid a politically charged atmosphere, where he has indicated the cuts are part of a broader goal to eliminate "fraud, waste, and abuse" from government spending. However, with Republican control over both chambers of Congress, they still require Democratic support for new spending laws, raising the stakes for potential government shutdowns, according to trtglobal and channelnewsasia.

The last government shutdown was narrowly averted in March, and such events are generally disruptive and expensive, halting essential services and affecting hundreds of thousands of federal employees. Up to 900,000 could be furloughed, while essential workers may have to work without pay until normal operations resume, highlighting the very real implications of Trump's proposed aid cuts, according to lemonde, trtglobal, and channelnewsasia.