President Trump’s administration has formally asked Congress to approve a $9.4 billion rescissions package, slashing funding to public broadcasting and foreign aid in line with the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) aggressive mission to rein in wasteful spending. The move, aimed squarely at entities like NPR, PBS, and USAID, marks a major step in Trump’s push to make DOGE cuts permanent through congressional approval.
The rescission proposal includes $1.1 billion in cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds NPR and PBS—two organizations the White House says have long pushed “radical, woke propaganda disguised as ‘news.’” The administration is also targeting $8.3 billion in foreign aid programs, accusing USAID of promoting “weaponized cultural indoctrination” abroad.
House Republicans are wasting no time. Speaker Mike Johnson pledged swift action, saying the House will “act quickly on this request” and vowing continued work to codify DOGE’s recommendations. Johnson emphasized that these cuts are “one of many legislative tools Republicans are using to restore fiscal sanity.”
The rescission process requires only a simple majority in both chambers, meaning Democrats can’t stall it with a filibuster. But with a narrow House majority, GOP leadership will still need to hold the line amid predictable resistance. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries already promised “strong and unified Democratic opposition.”
OMB Director Russ Vought told Fox News the administration will “work with Congress” and expects “many more” rescission packages to follow if this one passes. While critics like Sen. Rand Paul say the amount is “very, very small” compared to overall debt, the move underscores a broader effort to shrink bloated government—and end taxpayer subsidies for media and aid programs many Americans no longer support.