Trump seeks to cancel $810 million without Congress

Plus: The health benefits of singing with others  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

T. Michelle Murphy | September 27, 2026     Greetings. Growing up in Florida meant I went decades before hearing the word "nor'easter." Then, it conjured the blinding snow and biting winds I came to know during my years in Boston. But this weekend's nor'easter, coming early in the season, bends expectations and reminds us that these storms can be dangerous even without freezing temps—as you’ll see in our viral moment. It’s also good time to talk about how climate change affects extreme weather, which we get into elsewhere in today’s Brief. IN TODAY’S BRIEF Inside Trump’s ‘pocket rescission’ U.S.-China relations aren’t so black-and-white Linking heavy rain to climate change Feeling isolated? Join the choir  Floodwaters swallow coastal streets         READ THIS FIRST Trump moves to cancel $810 million in federal funding Samuel Corum—Sipa/Bloomberg via Getty Images President Donald Trump said this week that he is seeking to cancel almost $1 billion in federal funding, sidestepping congressional approval and earning blowback from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Using a controversial move known as a “pocket rescission,” Trump said he wants to nullify $810 million that Congress had approved for programs largely serving immigrants, minorities, and children. The Trump Administration said that rescinding the funds is “consistent with the Administration's goal of ending the use of Federal taxpayer dollars to support non-citizens, putting Americans first.”  But the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office and lawmakers from both parties have asserted that the move is an illegal sidestepping of the constitutionally protected separation of powers—chiefly, Congress's power of the purse. The Administration invoked the 1974 Impoundment Control Act, which allows the President to propose spending cancellations and gives Congress 45 days to approve them or see the funds released. However, the Administration submitted its request just five days before the fiscal year ends Sept. 30—all but ensuring the funds expire without congressional approval. —Rebecca Schneid         SPONSORED Hiring abroad? The real cost might surprise you Compensation is just the starting point. Taxes, benefits, employer contributions, and compliance costs can add up quickly, and vary by country. Use Oyster’s calculator to estimate what a global hire could really cost, so you can build a more accurate hiring budget and avoid surprises. Calculate your hiring costs         IN THE NEWS Has China’s ‘panda diplomacy’ lost its charm? VCG/Getty Images Chinese President Xi Jinping announced last week during his state visit to the U.S. that Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, two giant pandas from a research base in Chengdu, would be lent to Zoo Atlanta in Georgia. But it’s unclear whether this so-called “panda diplomacy” remains as welcome in the U.S. as it has been since the 1970s. Conservationists and animal advocates have argued against using pandas as geopolitical pawns. Additionally, Ja Ian Chong, an associate professor of political science at the National University of Singapore, tells TIME that “deep reservoirs of reservations remain” when it comes to American affinity toward China. That’s particularly true among Trump’s base: A recent survey from the Chicago Council on Global Affairs showed that 63% of MAGA Republicans favor limiting the growth of Chinese power. —Chad de Guzman         THE CONTEXT How does climate change impact extreme weather, like nor’easters? Ryan Murphy—Getty Images Named for the winds that blow in from the northeast, nor’easters typically bring either rain or snow to the eastern coast of the U.S. and Canada. They can come at any time of the year but are most common between September and April.  Some instances are also becoming more extreme, bringing with them more rainfall and stronger winds. That can lead to more storm surges, coastal flooding, and wind damage. The shift is linked to human-caused climate change, which warms the atmosphere and enables it to hold more moisture—and to then release more precipitation when it rains. “Not every storm is becoming more intense, but the intense storms are becoming more intense—whether that be a thunderstorm, a hurricane, one of these nor'easters,” says Mathew Barlow, a professor of climate science at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. —Simmone Shah and Rebecca Schneid         SPONSORED Your K-Cups Sat in a Warehouse for Months Grocery store pods spend months going factory → warehouse → truck → shelf, losing the flavor oils that make coffee taste like coffee. Angelino's roasts, packs, and ships within days — 50+ flavors, compatible with Keurig®, from 39¢ a cup. New customers save 15%, no code needed. Try Fresh-Roasted Pods         HEALTH CHECK How singing in a choir can boost your mental and physical wellness Denis Novikov—Getty Images Group singing is on the rise. And it couldn’t have come at a better time, given our fraught political landscape, writes Elizabeth Endicott, a multidisciplinary artist based in Denver. “Political turmoil can produce uncertainty, stress, isolation, and a feeling that forces around us are much larger than we are. Singing doesn’t make those forces disappear,” says Frank Russo, a psychology professor at Toronto Metropolitan University. “But singing together can change how people experience themselves in relation to them.” Singing together is a low-cost, inclusive activity. Recent studies show that it bolsters social cohesion. Plus, it provides numerous physical benefits—from lowering blood pressure and cortisol levels to bolstering lung health. Read more about what Endicott learned after spontaneously joining a choir.         SPONSORED Watch the full system run live on Sep 30. Walk away ready to do it yourself. Most founders have LinkedIn traction with nothing to show for it in the CRM. On Sep 30, Maria Gharib (Mindstream) and Valerie Chapman (Ruth AI) walk through the exact system live. From AI-assisted content creation to sequenced outreach to booked meeting. You'll leave with a process you can run the same day. Eligible startups also get the LinkedIn-to-Leads Toolkit: ad credits, Apollo, Captions, and HubSpot's Prospecting Agent. Get my spot         A VIRAL MOMENT Nor’easter pummels the East Coast An early-season nor’easter is battering the U.S. East Coast, with impacts expected through Monday. Gusts of wind exceeded 60 mph on Long Island, while coastal flooding inundated streets and homes along the Jersey Shore.       Linked In this addictive word-association game, find the steps that will unite two seemingly unrelated words in just four moves. PLAY NOW     More Newsletters from Click to sign up. D.C. BRIEF +FUTURE PROOF +HEALTH MATTERS +INSIDE TIME +IN THE LOOP +WORTH YOUR TIME + Subscribe to TIME Email us: thebrief@time.com Received this from a friend? 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