Trump seeks to withhold more than $800 million in spending on immigration, racial minorities, and education

Yesterday (Friday), US President Donald Trump sought to withhold more than $800 million in spending on immigration, racial minorities, and education approved by Congress, with a unilateral decision.

This move represents the latest round in the dispute between the Trump administration and Congress over control of government spending in the United States.

The White House said in a statement announcing these measures: “President Trump is committed to using all possible tools to reduce wasteful and harmful government spending that does not benefit American citizens,” Reuters reported.

The statement explained that the cuts include several programs; Among them are some programs concerned with refugee assistance, business development for ethnic minorities, and environmental conservation abroad.

The US Constitution gives Congress the power to control public spending, but the White House said that these programs support illegal immigration, fuel racial tension, and adopt an exaggerated cautionary approach to environmental issues.

In this step, the White House resorted to a rarely used mechanism known as “defunding,” which allows Congress to be bypassed.

Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, criticized the decision, calling it “illegal.” Collins, a member of Trump's Republican Party who is running in a tight election race to win a new term in Maine, said: "This is the latest attempt by the Office of Management and Budget to undermine Congress's constitutional authority to control spending." She added: “Any attempt to cancel funds approved by Congress without its approval constitutes a clear violation of the law.”

Last year, the Supreme Court refused to prevent Trump from using the same mechanism to withhold $4.9 billion in foreign aid approved by Congress, while the case was being considered.

Thousands were without power on the East Coast of the United States yesterday evening (Friday), while water flooded roads in some coastal areas of New Jersey in the first major signs of the powerful storm “Noor Easter,” which is expected to create dangerous conditions over the weekend, according to the German News Agency.

There are tens of millions of people in the path of the storm, which has already begun to hit the region with strong winds and rain. Dangerous flooding is expected along the mid-Atlantic coast, especially near New Jersey and Delaware, according to the National Weather Service.

In the coastal area of ​​Manasquan, New Jersey, some roads were submerged with water as darkness fell. Voluntary evacuation orders were issued earlier in some low-lying areas in the region. Mayor Mike Mangan said he expects "there will be a lot of water in the streets for a long time."

Concerts were cancelled, along with dozens of flights to Boston, Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard airports on Friday and Saturday. Several airlines have offered to waive some change or cancellation fees for some East Coast flights over the weekend.

Brian Kelly, mayor of Sea Bright Beach, a small community in New Jersey, said the area was bracing for winds of up to 50 mph (80 kph) and flooding that could reach 6 feet (1.8 meters) high on some streets. Officials expect the flooding to begin today (Saturday) and worsen by midday.

The White House announced on Friday that Washington and Beijing will establish a “channel of communication” between them to address incidents related to artificial intelligence.

The White House stated in an information document that the two countries had established a “dialogue between the United States and China on superintelligence to exchange views on the risks and benefits” associated with artificial intelligence, and they also agreed to establish a “bilateral communication channel” to address incidents in this field, according to Agence France-Presse.

Artificial intelligence, which US President Donald Trump a few days ago described as “superior intelligence,” was one of the main topics discussed by Chinese President Xi Jinping with his American counterpart during his visit to Washington, which concluded on Friday.

The two countries competing in the field of artificial intelligence are subject to increasing criticism regarding the issue of risks resulting from artificial intelligence, after recording a number of incidents that raised fears that this technology might escape the control of its creators.

The Chinese President considered that Washington and Beijing have a responsibility to “develop and manage artificial intelligence to serve the public good, and to ensure that its development always remains under human supervision.” As for Trump, his position was the opposite. He expressed his adherence to “the current level of organization.”

Last week, US Treasury Secretary Scott Besent proposed creating a mechanism for mutual notification between the two countries regarding any incidents in the field of artificial intelligence “related to national security.” He added: “We believe that it is important to move from a situation shrouded in ambiguity to more transparency between the first and second powers in the world in the field of artificial intelligence.”

Concerning superintelligence, to exchange views on the risks and benefits associated with artificial intelligence, and they also agreed to establish a “bilateral communication channel” to address incidents in this field, according to Agence France-Presse.

Artificial intelligence, which US President Donald Trump a few days ago described as “superior intelligence,” was one of the main topics discussed by Chinese President Xi Jinping with his American counterpart during his visit to Washington, which concluded on Friday.

The two countries competing in the field of artificial intelligence are subject to increasing criticism regarding the issue of risks resulting from artificial intelligence, after recording a number of incidents that raised fears that this technology might escape the control of its creators.

The Chinese President considered that Washington and Beijing have a responsibility to "develop and manage artificial intelligence to serve the public good, and to ensure that its development always remains under human supervision." As for Trump, his position was the opposite, as he expressed his adherence to “the current level of organization.” Last week, US Treasury Secretary Scott Besent proposed creating a mechanism for mutual notification between the two countries regarding any incidents in the field of artificial intelligence “related to national security.” He added, "We believe that it is important to move from a situation shrouded in ambiguity to greater transparency between the world's first and second powers in the field of artificial intelligence."