A senator from South Dakota announced support for a plan that involves more than $9 billion in cuts to foreign aid and public broadcasting, following discussions with the Trump administration.
On Tuesday, the senator revealed that he collaborated with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to reallocate some funds initially designated under the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act.
“We’ve reached an agreement with OMB to use funding from other sources related to what was part of Biden’s Green New Deal initiative. This money will be redirected to help tribal entities manage the radio stations that received funding over the next two years,” he explained to reporters.
Previously, he had opposed the package, expressing worries about the impact of Trump’s proposed cuts on tribal stations.
This development coincides with Senate Republican leaders increasing efforts to revive Trump’s funding package that was already approved by Congress. The Republicans can lose up to three Senate votes without jeopardizing the measure.
The bill, which has already passed the House, includes $8.3 billion in cuts to the U.S. International Development Agency (USAID) and foreign aid, along with over $1 billion in cuts to public broadcasting entities.
Congress is expected to draft legislation under a special rescue process initiated by the White House last month, aiming for a completion date of July 18th. This mechanism allows the Senate to approve reductions with a simple majority, circumventing Democratic resistance.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) has provided funding to NPR and PBS, which are currently facing scrutiny from the GOP amidst allegations of media bias. However, some Republicans are concerned that these cuts could disproportionately affect rural and tribal outlets.
When asked about the status of non-tribal broadcasters, the senator said he hadn’t taken note of them.
“What concerned me most was the funding for these specific tribes,” he stated. “There are about 14 of them I think.”
“Some might rely on this funding for as much as 50%, while others could be receiving 80-85%,” he added. “Without this support, they wouldn’t last; they play a crucial role in disseminating emergency information to some of the most isolated and impoverished areas in the country.”
