Senate Republicans cleared a major hurdle Tuesday in their push to finalize a $9 billion rescissions package backed by President Donald Trump, moving one step closer to defunding bloated international programs and left-leaning media outlets like NPR and PBS.
The Senate voted 51-50 to advance the bill, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote after three Senate Republicans—Mitch McConnell (KY), Lisa Murkowski (AK), and Susan Collins (ME)—joined Democrats in opposition. The bill now heads to a final debate and amendment stage before a Friday deadline.
The package, spearheaded by the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), includes cuts to foreign aid, climate initiatives, and globalist nonprofits. Among the targets: the Clean Technology Fund, the Democracy Fund, the U.S. Institute of Peace, USAID, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), and several international organizations.
Most notably, the bill defunds NPR and PBS—two taxpayer-funded entities that conservatives have long argued operate as partisan propaganda arms for the Left.
President Trump issued a sharp warning last week on Truth Social: “DEFUND THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING (PBS and NPR), which is worse than CNN & MSDNC put together. Any Republican that votes to allow this monstrosity to continue broadcasting will not have my support or Endorsement.”
After discussions with Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought, Senate Republicans are preparing to remove a controversial $400 million cut to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said the adjustment preserves the core $9 billion total while addressing concerns from a small group of GOP senators.
“There was a lot of interest among our members in doing something on the PEPFAR issue,” Thune said. “We hope the House will accept this small modification.”
Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD), who had raised objections over how the cuts might impact Native American public radio stations, announced Tuesday he had reached a deal with the administration. Under the agreement, those funds will be reallocated through the Department of the Interior, ensuring tribal stations continue to receive support.
If Congress fails to send the bill to Trump’s desk by Friday, the previously approved spending will be automatically disbursed. The White House has made it clear that delay is not an option.
With time running out, Senate Republicans are under pressure to stay united. Trump has vowed political consequences for defectors, and GOP leadership is framing the package as a critical first strike in the broader war against government waste, leftist influence, and unaccountable bureaucracies.