On Tuesday, the White House called on Congress to cut back foreign aid and public broadcasting funds to $9.4 billion. This marks the first package aimed at enhancing government efficiency, with the effort known as “DOGE” taking center stage.
This decision has been anticipated, despite many conservative activists moving ahead with their own initiatives, which they refer to as “one big beautiful bill” tied to President Trump’s tax cuts and spending goals.
Interestingly, the proposal only needs a simple majority in both chambers, allowing Republicans to sidestep the threat of a filibuster in the Senate. Once the request is submitted, Congress has 45 days to approve it, though they will need to juggle this timeline with other top priorities, including that aforementioned “big and beautiful bill.”
The House plans to vote on the package next week.
“Today, we officially received the request from the White House to fund NPR and PBS while eliminating unnecessary foreign aid expenses for state support and USAID,” noted R-La. “The House will address this request swiftly.”
President Trump’s communication highlighted the need for funding reductions during a session in the House on Tuesday afternoon.
“I report here that 22 Budget Authorities are proposing a total of $9.4 billion in rebates. This plan will affect the programs of the State Department and support corporations for public broadcasting, the US Institute for International Development, the US Institute of Peace, and other international aid programs,” Trump stated.
The specifics of the measure haven’t been released yet, but it is expected to revoke approximately $8.3 billion in foreign aid largely allocated by USAID.
An OMB representative mentioned that this would include cuts to global LGBTQ programs and other gender equity initiatives, as well as funds aimed at addressing global climate change and promoting green energy.
Moreover, it is anticipated that nearly $9 million will be trimmed from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The OMB representative pointed out that $5.1 million will be redirected from the Africa Development Foundation for programs tied to circumcision and reproductive health.
In the mix of all this, Republicans are criticizing two outlets they accuse of bias, proposing a $1.1 billion rebate for public broadcasting that benefits NPR and PBS.
Both organizations are currently involved in legal action against Trump’s funding decisions.
The proposed cuts, while presented as a means to save funds, amount to just a small fraction of the anticipated $175 billion in savings achieved through various strategies like workforce reductions and regulatory changes.
However, leading Democrats on the House and Senate Appropriations Committees have charged that the Trump administration has unlawfully frozen $425 billion in federal funds as part of a broader effort to downsize the federal government.
Republicans in both chambers seem confident about pushing through the proposed cuts. There’s hope that this package will stand as the first significant initiative from the White House in the months ahead, especially given the ongoing legal challenges to the Trump administration’s reduction efforts.
Yet, some senators have already indicated that these changes may face challenges. Other Republicans have also voiced concerns regarding how these funding cuts will impact local television stations and the effects on PEPFAR’s funding.
The Water Storage Control Act provides the President with a legal avenue to cancel funds that Congress has approved. This 1974 law allows for temporary withholding of funds following a request to Congress. However, if Congress does not approve Trump’s proposed adjustments, the administration will need to release the funds.
Trump stands out as the only president in the past 20 years to send such a special message to Congress. He attempted a similar approach to retract funds during his first term, but that effort fell short, even with Republican control of the House, Senate, and the White House at that time.
