The Senate voted 51-48 early Thursday to approve President Donald Trump’s $9 billion rescission package, cutting previously approved funds for foreign aid and public broadcasting. The vote marks the first standalone rescissions package to pass in decades, advancing the administration’s drive to pare back federal spending.
🚨NEWS— @SenateGOP has PASSED the Trump Rescissions Act of 2025.
— Markwayne Mullin (@SenMullin) July 17, 2025
Final vote: 51-48. (VP not needed.)
Claws back $9 billion in @DOGE cuts, targeting wasteful foreign aid programs that don’t serve America’s interest, as well as NPR and PBS.
Important step. More to do. pic.twitter.com/a85qPyTuzV
The cuts target global health and disaster relief programs, and eliminate $1.1 billion in funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) joined Democrats in opposing the bill.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) reversed course to support the package, after Vice President JD Vance broke a procedural tie earlier in the week.
I've heard people call for NPR to be defunded for years now.
— Alex Pfeiffer (@Pfeiffer47) July 17, 2025
President Trump accomplished it in his first six months. https://t.co/8g9iVFtjjc
Democrats blasted the move as a power grab by the executive branch. “Senate Republicans turn this chamber into a subservient rubber stamp,” said Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). The House must vote again due to last-minute changes excluding cuts to the PEPFAR HIV/AIDS program.
