Taiwan's opposition-controlled legislature zeroed out the presidential office's discretionary fund, cancelling a 15,000-box mooncake order that sheltered workshops and welfare groups were counting on — bad news for disabled workers and charities heading into Mid-Autumn Festival.

• The legislature passed the 2026 central government budget but froze and cut the presidential office's NT$30 million discretionary fund to zero.
• The office buys 15,000 boxes of mooncakes from sheltered workshops and welfare groups every year, and has now had to drop the order.
• Groups had already bought raw materials, so they are stuck with the cost and the unsold stock.
• A welfare worker said one child asked whether they had done something wrong, which set off public anger.
• Influencer "Froggy" Chiu bought five boxes from two groups, posted the receipts, and shared a list of 62 workshops the presidential office recommends, sparking a wave of copycat buying.

Outlook: Public shaming and grassroots buying may soak up some of the unsold mooncakes, but the budget fight between the ruling party and the opposition is set to stay ugly.