In a narrow late-night vote, the Republican-led House of Representatives approved a $9 billion package of spending cuts, advancing President Donald Trump’s proposal to reduce funding for foreign aid and public broadcasting. The vote, held just after midnight, passed 216 to 213, largely along party lines, and follows earlier approval in the Senate. The bill now heads to the White House for the president’s signature.
The package targets billions in funding for aid programs supporting countries affected by war, disease, and natural disasters, as well as $1.1 billion earmarked for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting over the next two years. The CPB funds more than 1,500 local public television and radio stations, including NPR and PBS. Conservative lawmakers have long criticized such funding as unnecessary, claiming it supports biased programming and redundant media infrastructure.
President Trump welcomed the vote, praising House Republicans in a post on Truth Social, writing in all caps: “REPUBLICANS HAVE TRIED DOING THIS FOR 40 YEARS, AND FAILED… BUT NO MORE. THIS IS BIG!!!”
The move is part of a broader Republican effort to demonstrate fiscal restraint, even as critics note that a separate GOP-backed domestic policy bill is projected to add over $3 trillion to the national debt. House Speaker Mike Johnson defended the cuts, stating, “President Trump and House Republicans promised fiscal responsibility and government efficiency. Today, we’re once again delivering on that promise.”
Although the cuts represent a small share of overall federal spending, they align with the mission of the Department of Government Efficiency, an initiative launched under Trump’s administration and initially led by tech billionaire Elon Musk. Musk resigned from the effort in May, citing differences over implementation and scope. His original proposal had aimed to identify up to $1 trillion in annual federal savings.
A proposed $400 million reduction to a global AIDS relief initiative, credited with saving over 26 million lives, was removed from the bill after moderate Republicans objected. That late change allowed the legislation to retain broader party support while averting a deeper backlash.
Democrats fiercely opposed the measure, portraying it as a breach of bipartisan agreements and a dangerous precedent for future budgetary decisions. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other top Democrats issued a joint statement condemning the vote, saying, “Instead of protecting the health, safety, and well-being of the American people, House Republicans have once again rubber-stamped Donald Trump’s extreme, reckless rescissions legislation.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer echoed those concerns, calling it “a dark day for any American who relies on public broadcasting during floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and other disasters.” Democrats warned that the move could derail negotiations needed to avoid a government shutdown when current funding runs out in September. Although they are in the minority, Democrats retain key leverage in the Senate, where 60 votes are needed to pass most major budget bills, and Republicans hold just 53 seats.
White House budget director Russell Vought, speaking at a Christian Science Monitor event on Thursday, suggested that the administration may soon submit another rescissions package to Congress, signaling that the White House intends to continue pursuing aggressive cuts in federal spending.
