Congress Approves Trump’s $9B Spending Cut Proposal

Congress Approves Trump’s $9B Spending Cut Proposal
Congress officially passed President Donald Trump’s $9 billion spending cut plan, slashing funds for foreign aid and public broadcasting. The House approved the proposal 216–213, shortly after the Senate voted 51–48.
This marks the first time in decades a president succeeded in pushing a rescission package through Congress, reflecting Republican efforts to reshape federal spending priorities.
What the Trump Spending Cuts Eliminate
The bill removes:
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$1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), affecting more than 1,500 local stations.
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Nearly $8 billion from foreign aid, including:
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$800 million for refugee shelter and emergency response
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$496 million for disaster relief services
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$4.15 billion for economic and democratic development in fragile regions
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House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) celebrated the cuts:
“We’re restoring fiscal sanity. This is a crucial step.”
But House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) blasted the decision:
“This bill doesn’t put America first. It gives China and other powers room to expand.”
CPB Elimination Sparks Bipartisan Alarm
The total defunding of CPB drew sharp criticism. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said public radio plays a vital role in emergency response across rural Alaska.
“It’s not just about news—it’s our first line of defense during natural disasters.”
Despite the backlash, the White House called public broadcasting “politically biased” and “unnecessary.” Officials reallocated a small amount of Interior Department funds to Native American radio stations, but CPB leaders criticized the move as a “half-measure.”
Congress Preserves PEPFAR Funding
Trump’s administration initially proposed a $400 million cut to PEPFAR, a globally praised HIV/AIDS program. But strong bipartisan pushback forced lawmakers to drop that provision.
PEPFAR continues to operate at full capacity.
New Rules for Budget Cuts Raise Concerns
The bill’s passage creates a new precedent: Congress now only needs a simple majority to approve rescissions, bypassing the standard 60-vote Senate threshold.
Only two Republicans—Murkowski and Susan Collins (R-Maine)—broke ranks to oppose the measure.
“Let’s not make a habit of shortcutting this process,” warned Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), who voted yes but voiced concern over transparency.
Expect More Trump Spending Cuts
Russell Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, confirmed that the administration will introduce additional cuts soon.
“We’re prepared to keep going. More rescission packages are on the horizon.”
Source: AP News
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