Senate Republicans have cleared a key hurdle in the legislative process by advancing Donald Trump’s proposed $9 billion funding cuts for foreign aid and public broadcasting programs, though the bill remains far from final. The measure, which targets U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) funding, passed through the Senate Appropriations Committee with a narrow vote. Vice President JD Vance cast the deciding vote, which was necessary after several Senate Republicans and all Democratic senators voted against the measure.
Trump’s proposal, which includes cuts to USAID and CPB funding, faces growing scrutiny and resistance from within the GOP ranks. While the inclusion of $400 million in HIV/AIDS prevention funding aimed to secure support, some Republican senators, including Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, voiced concerns over the legislative process and the impact of the cuts. Murkowski criticized the rapid pace of legislative action, saying, ‘What a crazy thing, what a crazy thing. What have we been doing around here?’ Collins, while supportive of the PEPFAR carveout, ultimately decided to vote against advancing the bill.
The bill now faces the prospect of extensive debate and potential modifications during the Senate floor process, which could delay or reshape the final version of the proposal. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson has reportedly expressed a desire to see the Senate refrain from making significant changes to the bill, as it would likely proceed through the House GOP and be presented to Trump for final approval. With the potential for amendments and a final vote pending, the outcome of the budgetary showdown remains uncertain.