House Approves Significant Cuts to Foreign Aid and Public Broadcasting

In a tight vote on Thursday, the House of Representatives decided to reduce spending by $9.4 billion, impacting foreign aid and public broadcasting. This decision is part of an initiative to implement savings identified by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), almost three months following a temporary continuation of federal spending. The plan, initiated by the White House, proposes a $8.3 billion cut from various foreign aid budgets and a $1.1 billion reduction for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which supports public media entities such as NPR and PBS.

Strategic Reductions Initiated by President Trump

These cuts, albeit modest in the context of the broader $1.6 trillion discretionary spending approved by lawmakers, represent the first triumph of President Donald Trump and DOGE’s strategy to eliminate waste and abuse within federal spending. President Trump, in a last-minute social media call, urged Republican support for the package, labeling it as essential to “claw back” funds used for ‘DEI’ initiatives and the ‘Green New SCAM’, in addition to cutting funding for NPR and PBS—entities he described as biased.

Challenges on the House Floor

Despite President Trump’s urging, the passage of the measure saw some drama, nearly failing initially due to opposition from six Republican members. However, after some persuasion by House Speaker Mike Johnson and his team, two holdouts agreed to vote in favor, leading to a narrow victory of 214-212. Notably, Representatives Mark Amodei, Brian Fitzpatrick, Nicole Malliotakis, and Michael R. Turner opposed the measure along with all Democrats.

Speaker Johnson and Republican Leadership Efforts

Following the vote, Speaker Johnson praised the heroic efforts of DOGE and promised further cuts. He highlighted the significance of the rescissions as a step toward more responsible government. Among the key Republicans who changed their stance last-minute were Reps. Nick LaLota and Don Bacon, who were persuaded after discussions focused on the careful use of taxpayer money.

Concerns from Republican Defectors

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Republicans opposing the package expressed concerns about the impact of broadcasting cuts on local affiliates of NPR and PBS. In particular, Rep. Bacon shared his initial reservations about reductions to PBS’s budget and an HIV/AIDS prevention program, which he later retracted after reassurances from Republican leaders.

Senate to Address Local Media and Foreign Aid Challenges

The rescissions package now moves to the Senate, where it faces hurdles, particularly regarding cuts to public broadcasting that may affect rural local media. Senator Dan Sullivan expressed a dual perspective, recognizing the role of rural stations in states like Alaska but criticizing the left-wing bias in National Public Radio. The Senate Appropriations Committee must engage with the package before it can advance, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicating a vote post-passage of another significant legislative act.

Future Legislative Actions

As the process continues, Republican leaders in both chambers are working diligently to align the legislative measures with efficient governance and careful scrutiny of spending. The final decisions of the Senate will determine the extent of implementation of these cuts, which aim to refine federal expenditure and reduce unnecessary outlays.