The House of Representatives approved President Donald Trump's request to reclaim approximately $9 billion in funding, primarily from public broadcasting and foreign aid. This move, occurring early Friday, marked a significant step in the Republican effort to target programs and institutions they deemed excessive or misaligned with their agenda.
The vote represented the first time in decades that a president successfully submitted such a rescissions request to Congress. While some Republicans expressed reservations, they ultimately supported the cuts, wary of opposing Trump or disrupting his agenda. The bill passed the House with a narrow margin and was then sent to the President for his signature.
Opponents voiced concerns about the programs targeted and the shift of spending authority to the executive branch. They argued that the Republican package was unprecedented, as previous rescission efforts had at least some bipartisan support. The bill passed the Senate without any Democratic support.
The package includes the cancellation of about $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and nearly $8 billion for various foreign aid programs. The CPB funding cut represents the full amount it was due to receive during the next two budget years. The White House views the public media system as politically biased and an unnecessary expense.
The foreign aid cuts include significant reductions for programs providing emergency assistance to refugees and those affected by natural disasters and conflicts. Democrats argued that these cuts would harm America's global standing and create opportunities for other nations to fill the void. The White House countered that the cuts would encourage other countries to increase their humanitarian efforts.
The legislation, initiated by the White House's rescissions request, required only a simple majority vote in the Senate, allowing Republicans to pass it along party lines. While some Republicans expressed concerns about the process, the bill ultimately passed. The director of the Office of Management and Budget indicated that another rescissions package was likely to follow.
5 Comments
Manolo Noriega
This is nothing more than a power grab. Trump is using his office to punish organizations and people he doesn't like.
Fuerza
Great job, President Trump! Cutting unnecessary spending is the right thing to do.
Manolo Noriega
The lack of bipartisan support speaks volumes. This is a purely partisan power grab.
Ongania
CPB provides vital educational and cultural programming. This is a direct attack on education and the arts.
Manolo Noriega
The focus on cutting costs at the expense of programs that help people is beyond cynical. What's next, the IRS?