Trump Proposes $9.4 Billion DOGE Investment Cuts to Congress, Targeting NPR and PBS
White House submits rescissions package requesting funding cuts to PBS, NPR, and USAID to Congress.
The debate over federal spending is heading into another critical phase as Congress prepares to take up President Donald Trump's $9.4 billion rescissions request. With the formal submission now in lawmakers' hands, the countdown has begun for the House and Senate to weigh and potentially codify these substantial funding reductions within the 45-day window prescribed by law.
In a statement Tuesday, Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized the urgency and intent behind the rescissions package, which targets what the administration calls "wasteful" foreign aid spending at the State Department and USAID, as well as federal support for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. "The House will act quickly on this request," Johnson announced, referencing efforts to restore fiscal discipline through a collaborative process with the White House and highlighting alignment with recommendations from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Trump’s proposal uses the rescissions package mechanism—a tool created by the 1974 Impoundment Control Act. While the Act prevents unilateral executive defunding, it grants the president a direct way to seek congressional approval for targeted spending cuts. The legislative process for rescissions allows the majority party to navigate around some obstacles usually faced in the Senate, lowering the threshold for passage to just 51 votes and applying strict time limits for debate in both chambers.
Key targets of the cuts include NPR, PBS, and USAID, perennial flashpoints for fiscal conservatives. This package may only be the beginning. Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought hinted at the possibility of additional requests, stating, "We’re very interested to make sure it passes both the House and the Senate, but we’re very open to sending multiple bills."
Republicans are pressing ahead not only with the rescissions push, but also with ambitious plans for a comprehensive tax and immigration package, aiming to conclude work before the July Fourth holiday. While the tax bill proceeds under separate budget reconciliation rules, both legislative tracks allow the GOP to pass measures with simple Senate majorities, sidestepping extended filibusters and expediting action.
However, the administration faces a precariously slim majority in the House. Though slashing funding for public broadcasting and foreign aid enjoys broad support among conservative groups, there are signs some moderate GOP members remain wary of political risks—such as being portrayed as defunding popular children's programming. As one House Republican observed, “There will be some that don't want an ad written that they're defunding Big Bird.”
Conservative blocs like the House Freedom Caucus and the Republican Study Committee are ramping up pressure, urging leadership to pass the cuts swiftly and demonstrating the urgency felt among their ranks. "This first rescissions package from President Trump is a test as to whether Congress has the ability to deliver on his mandate by canceling wasteful spending through a filibuster-proof process," said Paul Winfree, founder of the Economic Policy Innovation Center.
As the next 45 days unfold, the outcome of the rescissions debate will serve as an early indicator of the GOP’s ability to advance its fiscal agenda and respond to the White House’s calls for sweeping reductions in federal spending.
