SCOOP: House Freedom Caucus Sets Stage for Battle as White House Prepares $9.4 Billion Spending Cuts

The House Freedom Caucus has issued a strong demand for the House of Representatives to hold a vote on the White House’s proposed $9.4 billion federal spending cut package during the same week it is delivered to Capitol Hill. The group, led by Chairman Andy Harris, R-Md., took an official position early Monday, insisting on immediate floor action once the package—popularly known as the DOGE cuts—arrives.

The highly anticipated rescissions package is expected to target funding for NPR, PBS, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The Freedom Caucus underscored its support, stating, “The House of Representatives should immediately move this to the floor for swift passage.” This marks an escalation in ongoing efforts to trim what conservatives describe as wasteful government spending and follows through on campaign promises to rein in expenditures, particularly those benefitting public broadcasters and foreign aid.

The White House is poised to formally send the $9.4 billion proposal to Congress on Tuesday. The mechanism, called a rescissions package, allows the president to request Congress revoke money that had previously been allocated in the federal budget process. Lawmakers have a 45-day window to approve or reject the proposal before it expires.

In their statement, the Freedom Caucus warned of potential resistance from both parties, cautioning, “While the Swamp will inevitably attempt to slow and kill these cuts, there is no excuse for a Republican House not to advance the first DOGE rescissions package the same week it is presented to Congress.” They called on colleagues to ensure the bill moves swiftly through both chambers so President Trump can sign it into law.

This push arrives as Republicans tout recent legislative victories aligned with former President Donald Trump’s fiscal agenda, including last week's passage of a multi-trillion-dollar tax and immigration bill. House GOP leadership is eager to capitalize on the momentum, with Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., emphasizing urgency around both the rescissions and appropriations processes. “You’re going to see a lot of the DOGE cuts and a lot of this new fiscal restraint reflected in what Congress does next,” Johnson explained in a weekend interview.

The timeline for action, however, may be tight. Under current House rules, lawmakers must have 72 hours to review any new bill before a vote, which could delay proceedings until late in the week or over the weekend. Despite this, pressure is mounting from not only the Freedom Caucus but also the influential Republican Study Committee. Its chairman, Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, commented, “Congress must promptly cement these cuts in law through rescissions and the FY26 appropriations bills.”

GOP officials have signaled that this will likely be the first in a series of such proposals, with National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett stating last week that more rescission packages are on the horizon. Meanwhile, Speaker Johnson assured constituents that the party remains committed to collaboration with the White House to codify spending reductions and address what he described as ongoing misuse of taxpayer dollars.

Republican leaders hope to have key elements of their fiscal agenda finalized by Independence Day, looking to set a new standard in budget discipline and government efficiency. Whether the House will meet the aggressive timeline set forth by its most conservative members remains to be seen, but the coming days are poised to shape the next phase of federal spending debates in Washington.