[2006alum]

I agree with those above who think suspending the payments is dumb.

But I have a more fundamental question: under what statutory authority is the president permitted to withhold funding passed by Congress?  Or is he just repeating the actions that he was already impeached for (suspending payments to Ukraine against the express will of Congress)?

I tried to investigate this because Congress allocates expenditures to the WHO. Here's what the CNBC story on this had to say:

It’s unclear exactly what mechanism Trump intends to use to withhold WHO funding, much of which is appropriated by Congress. The president typically does not have the authority to unilaterally redirect congressional funding.

One option might be for Trump to use powers granted to the president under the Impoundment Control Act of 1974. Under this statute, the president may propose to withhold congressional funds, but it requires congressional approval within 45 days. Absent this approval, the funds must be returned to their original, congressionally mandated purpose after 45 days.

If I had to bet, like most things with Trump, I doubt this will last. He'll extract concessions from the WHO before 45 days are up and then they'll get the funding.

[2006alum]

I agree with those above who think suspending the payments is dumb.

But I have a more fundamental question: under what statutory authority is the president permitted to withhold funding passed by Congress?  Or is he just repeating the actions that he was already impeached for (suspending payments to Ukraine against the express will of Congress)?

I tried to investigate this because Congress allocates expenditures to the WHO. Here's what the CNBC story on this had to say:

It’s unclear exactly what mechanism Trump intends to use to withhold WHO funding, much of which is appropriated by Congress. The president typically does not have the authority to unilaterally redirect congressional funding.

One option might be for Trump to use powers granted to the president under the Impoundment Control Act of 1974. Under this statute, the president may propose to withhold congressional funds, but it requires congressional approval within 45 days. Absent this approval, the funds must be returned to their original, congressionally mandated purpose after 45 days.

If I had to bet, like most things with Trump, I doubt this will last. He'll extract concessions from the WHO before 45 days are up and then they'll get the funding.