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Senate Republicans are weighing billions of dollars in spending cuts, targeting programs from PBS to the Global Health Initiative, in response to requests from President Donald Trump.
The approximately $9 billion in federal funding proposal reflects some of the cuts pursued by government efficiency, previously led by billionaire and former adviser Elon Musk.
The bill currently under consideration will affect the company for public broadcasting funding NPR and PBS, and affect foreign aid agencies, including the World Health Organization and the International Development Organization.
Senate majority leader John Toon said he expects the voting process to begin on the evening of July 15, but said the final decision would come later on July 16, or earlier the next day. Lawmakers held the Trump demands until July 18th before officially expired, and current funds remain in place.
“We hope we have the opportunity to ride on that bill and do something meaningful about reducing the size and scope of the federal government, especially in the areas of government where there is no waste, fraud and abuse,” Thune said at a July 15 press conference.
This new push for spending cuts comes just after Congress’s “Big, Beautiful Building” saga. Trump’s sweeping tax, spending and policy package ran through Congress just before the July 4 deadline.
Broadcast services have been narrowed down
Republican lawmakers are considering codifying the near-range of claims that nearly $200 billion Doge claims saved the federal government.
Russell Vert, director of management and budget, said the amount cuts represent “vain and unnecessary spending” in the White House’s formal demands on Congress.
This includes stripping companies of more than $1 billion for public broadcasting.
Trump has set his sights on their recipients’ outlet NPR and PBS, denounces both unfair news reports.
If Congress moves further on these cuts, local stations are expected to bear the brunt of lost funds.
Sen. Mike Rounds of R-South Dakota had originally withheld support for the bill for impact on public broadcasting, but announced a change of heart after stating on July 15 that he had reached an agreement to protect the tribal broadcasting services in his hometown.
Large amounts of reductions are foreign aid
The law proposes reductions in foreign aid, primarily international peacekeeping efforts and certain global health initiatives.
However, the Senate plans to remove one of its most controversial targets.
Republicans, including Maine Sen. Susan Collins, had criticised the proposed retirement from the global AIDS prevention program. Thune said Tuesday that they plan to remove that $400 million cut, lowering the bill’s total savings from $9.4 billion to $9 billion, likely clearing one of the top chamber’s biggest hurdles.
“If we can pass this across the Senate finish line, we hope that the House will accept that small amendment,” Thune said.
When will Congress be cut?
Some lower rooms lawmakers have already complained about the possibility of receiving a diluted version of the bill.
R-South Carolina Rep. Ralph Norman told Politico in June that he disagreed that he would “fewer pennies” than what the house originally approved.
Meanwhile, some Republican senators began the week as they were still looking for details from the White House about which programs and accounts could be touched before confidently supporting the bill.
“It’s important to be successful with this package because I hope this warms up what billions of dollars worth of rescue should be,” Tom Tillis said on July 15th.
Vought joined Senate Republicans later that day for lunch, and during that meeting, Sen. John Hoeven R-North Dakota said the OMB director provided detailed information on where the cuts would be made.
“Now, I don’t know if it meets the specificity that some members have requested,” Hoeven told reporters.
Vought, who came out of lunch with lawmakers, said the bill continued as is, in addition to the exception to the AIDS prevention program.
“I think everyone involved wants a successful outcome,” Vought added. “We’re going to focus on the Senate now, then on returning home.”
