President Donald Trump's administration backed off on Tuesday on plans to bypass Congress and roll back billions of dollars from the US foreign aid budget after stiff resistance from lawmakers, a senior lawmaker, congressional aides and US officials said.

Reuters reported on Aug 16 that the White House Office of Management and Budget had asked the State Department and US Agency for International Development to submit information for a "rescission" package that would have led to sharp cuts in foreign assistance.

Trump's focus on his "America First" agenda has meant fewer funds for foreign assistance and his administration has pushed repeatedly to cut the amount of money sent abroad since he took office in January 2017.

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