Senate Republicans Push Forward Trump’s $9 Billion Spending Cuts Proposal by a Narrow Margin
On Tuesday evening, Senate Republicans moved forward with a proposed $9.4 billion package of spending cuts put forth by former President Donald Trump. The procedural vote saw the package advance with a narrow margin of 51-50, which included a pivotal tie-breaking vote from Vice President JD Vance. This package targets previously approved funding primarily for foreign aid and public broadcasting.
Notably, three Republican senators, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, voted against the measure alongside all Democrats. A final vote in the Senate is scheduled for later this week. In their efforts to secure the necessary majority, Senate Republicans and the White House reached an important compromise earlier in the day.
They agreed to remove approximately $400 million in proposed cuts from PEPFAR, a foreign aid program originally established to combat HIV/AIDS, recognized for saving millions of lives. White House budget director Russell Vought expressed optimism regarding a substitute amendment that is expected to gain support during the vote. Republicans aim to pass the package through a seldom-used process that circumvents a filibuster, which gives Congress 45 days to send the bill to the president’s desk after a formal request from the White House.
This deadline is set for Friday. However, since changes were made to the initial proposal, it must pass the GOP-controlled House of Representatives again before reaching Trump’s desk. The House had narrowly approved a similar package last month with a vote of 214-212.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune emphasized the significance of addressing the PEPFAR issue within the package while ensuring the overall rescissions still constitute a substantial reduction in wasteful spending. Most cuts in the package are directed towards foreign aid, which has sparked concerns among some Republicans. Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota reached an agreement with the White House to support rural broadcasting needs, ensuring that funding would be redirected to Native American radio stations.
The White House has stated that if the Senate fails to send the package by the deadline, they will resume spending the funds. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the proposed cuts, warning they could hinder bipartisan cooperation in future funding discussions. Schumer reiterated the Democrats’ commitment to maintaining a collaborative appropriations process.