The White House has dismissed claims that the Trump administration approved federal funding for foreign aid and public broadcasting.
On Thursday, the Senate approved a retirement package that cuts more than $1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the entity that supports NPR and PBS.
“These aren’t honest news organizations,” stated Leavitt during a press briefing. “They are taxpayer-funded, partisan outlets. This administration doesn’t view this as a legitimate use of taxpayer resources.”
PBS and NPR were unavailable for immediate comment following the statements made by Fox News Digital.
The retirement package also withdraws nearly $8 billion from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which operates independently from the State Department.
The Senate narrowly passed a measure to cancel previously approved funding with a vote of 51-48. Senators Susan Collins from Maine and Lisa Murkowski from Alaska, both Republicans, joined Democrats in opposing the bill.
Leavitt remarked, “This $9 billion worth of funding that’s being revoked is actually good for American taxpayers.”
Senate majority leader John Thune has praised the measure as a move toward “fiscal sanity,” aligning with Trump administration efforts aimed at eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse.
Thune emphasized the administration’s commitment to identifying wasteful spending, expressing hope that the Senate would contribute to reducing budget waste—calling it a small yet vital step toward financial responsibility.
However, Democrats contend that cuts to foreign aid could benefit countries like Russia and China and pose a threat to national security. They worry that the withdrawal of funds might extend beyond foreign aid and public broadcasting.
Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer expressed concern on the Senate floor, stating that cutting American aid could create a void that the Chinese Communist Party would readily exploit.
Schumer further criticized the decision-making power placed in Trump’s hands, warning that it jeopardizes crucial areas such as healthcare, education, and food assistance. He concluded that nearly everything is at stake should such a package be allowed to become law.
