Congress passes, sends $9B spending cuts bill to Trump’s desk
Congress passed a $9 billion rescissions package, sending the legislation to President Donald Trump’s desk just after midnight on Friday, July 18. The bill blocks $8 billion from foreign aid programs and nearly $1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. If signed, it will prevent those funds from being spent during the remainder of fiscal year 2025.
The bill passed the House by a vote of 216-213. Only two House Republicans, Reps. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, and Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Penn, voted against it.
This marks the first time in over two decades that Congress has advanced a rescission package into law, according to CNN.
“We’re going to downsize the scope of government,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson. “Government is too large. It does too many things, and it does almost nothing well.”
On Truth Social, Trump celebrated the bill’s passage and highlighted the cuts to NPR and public broadcasting, which he called wasteful. He noted that Republicans had unsuccessfully tried to make similar cuts for decades, calling the latest passage a major achievement.
What is a rescissions package and why does it matter?
A rescissions package allows the president to propose canceling funds already approved by Congress. Lawmakers then have 45 days to act on the request.
In contrast to standard legislation, rescission bills require only a simple majority in the Senate — 51 votes — allowing Republicans to advance the package without Democratic support.
Although the $9 billion total accounts for less than 0.1% of the federal budget, House and Senate Republicans said the move represents a necessary step toward reducing spending. Senate Majority Leader John Thune called it a “small but important step toward fiscal sanity.”
What programs are affected?
The package eliminates funding for several international initiatives, including food and development aid, refugee assistance and USAID global health programs. Medical experts warned recently that those cuts could contribute to a total of around 14 million preventable deaths worldwide over the next four to five years.
Cuts to public broadcasting will primarily affect rural radio stations, which rely more heavily on federal funding than larger outlets.
Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, opposed the bill, citing concerns over transparency and public safety. Murkowski pointed to recent tsunami warnings in Alaska, saying public radio played a critical role in alerting communities.
How did Democrats respond?
Senate Democrats criticized the bill for harming foreign assistance programs and weakening emergency communications networks. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the cuts could hurt farmers, disaster relief efforts and U.S. credibility abroad.
Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
