Senate Passes $9 Billion Cuts Package Targeting Public Broadcasting and Foreign Aid
The Senate has approved a $9 billion cuts package impacting public broadcasting and foreign aid, amid bipartisan opposition and concerns over national security and local media.
Overview
- The Senate passed a $9 billion cuts package requested by President Trump, affecting public broadcasting and foreign aid programs.
- Bipartisan opposition emerged, with Senators Collins and Murkowski voting against the cuts, reflecting divisions within the GOP.
- The cuts include $8 billion in foreign aid, impacting programs that strengthen democratic institutions in developing countries.
- Democrats unanimously opposed the bill, warning that cuts could damage America's global reputation and harm local public media.
- The White House supports the cuts, citing wasteful spending, while opponents fear it undermines Congress's spending authority and harms local media.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources present a neutral and objective account of the Senate's vote on spending cuts. They focus on factual reporting of the legislative process, including vote counts, specific programs affected, and the procedural hurdles. Opinions and concerns from various senators are directly attributed, avoiding editorializing or the use of loaded language, thus maintaining an impartial stance.
"The potential fallout from the cuts for local public media stations has generated concerns on both sides of the political aisle."
Associated Press"The cancellation of $1.1 billion for the CPR represents the full amount it is due to receive during the next two budget years."
Associated Press"The legislation, which now moves to the House, would have a tiny impact on the nation’s rising debt but could have major ramifications for the targeted spending, from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to U.S. food aid programs abroad."
Chicago Sun-Times"The Senate version of the bill approved on Thursday would still cut roughly $8bn from multiple aid programmes, including global health programmes under USAID, the US's main philanthropic arm."
BBC News"The overall package was slimmed down from $9.4 billion by removing a proposed $400 million cut to PEPFAR, a global public health program created to combat HIV and AIDS that both Republicans and Democrats argue has been successful."
NPR"The legislation, formally requested by President Donald Trump in early June, represents a sliver of the nearly $200 billion in government savings the Department of Government Efficiency reports it has made."
USA TODAY"The Senate passed President Trump's request to rescind $9 billion in foreign aid and public broadcasting funding early Thursday, culminating an hours-long "vote-a-rama" and sending it back to the House ahead of a Friday deadline."
CBS News"Leaders in the public broadcasting community have warned that losing CPB funding would cripple small stations, especially in rural areas underserved by commercial media, and weaken the entire public media network."
NPR"This elimination of federal funding will decimate public media and put local stations at risk of going dark, cutting off service to communities that rely on them — many of which have no other access to locally controlled media."
Deadline"The passage vote marked a victory for the Trump administration, which is seeking to use the rescissions process to pare back federal spending and codify cuts made by the Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE."
Roll Call"This rescission bill isn't going to do much to solve the federal government's fiscal mess, but it does serve up a depressing reminder of how difficult it can be to get even the smallest of cuts through Congress."
Reason"Some key Senate Republicans are expressing serious reservations with a package of spending cuts requested by President Donald Trump as they barrel toward a final vote as soon as Wednesday evening."
NBC News"The holdouts said the administration's request lacks details about how the cuts will be implemented."
CBS News"The legislation would claw back nearly $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which represents the full amount it’s due to receive during the next two budget years."
Associated Press"The Senate's plan to amend the bill means it will have to pass the GOP-controlled House again before Trump can sign it into law."
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FAQ
The bill targets about $8 billion in foreign aid programs, including those administered by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and other initiatives that support countries affected by drought, disease, and political unrest[2]. Approximately $1.1 billion is being cut from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds public radio and television stations such as NPR and PBS.
The Senate passed the bill 51–48. All Democrats present voted against it, as did two Republicans, Senators Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska). Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) was hospitalized and missed the vote[2].
The Senate amended the House’s original rescission request, so the bill must return to the House for another vote before President Trump can sign it into law[4]. Both chambers must approve the final version before the end of the week, otherwise the funds must be spent as originally allocated[2].
Supporters argue the cuts eliminate wasteful spending and target programs they view as bloated or misaligned with their priorities[1][3]. Opponents, including Democrats and some Republicans, warn the cuts could damage America’s global reputation, harm communities reliant on public media, and undermine Congress’s constitutional authority over spending.
The White House has described this package as a test case and suggested that more rescission requests are likely in the future if Congress approves this first round of cuts[3].
History
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