Congress has passed a $9 billion spending cuts package, targeting international aid and public broadcasting, sending it to President Donald Trump’s desk after a late-night House vote. The bill, known as a ‘rescissions package,’ was approved in a narrow 216-213 vote, marking the first such package in decades. The measure aims to curb federal spending by blocking funds allocated for fiscal year 2025, with Republicans celebrating it as a victory against ‘woke’ initiatives while Democrats criticize it as undermining critical foreign aid.
The legislation represents a significant shift in the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches, as the rescissions process allows the president to exert influence over Congress’ annual appropriations process. The White House had proposed blocking certain funds, which Congress had previously allocated, and lawmakers had 45 days to pass the measure. This time, the bill was passed just in time to prevent the funds from being re-obligated as planned, with a tight deadline adding pressure to the House’s decision-making process.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., hailed the vote as a win for fiscal responsibility, though he acknowledged it was primarily symbolic in nature. The measure was seen as a test run for a broader fiscal claw-back process, a tool that has not been used in well over two decades. Republicans have increasingly embraced this method as a way to reduce federal spending, particularly on programs they view as politically driven or unnecessary.
Democrats, however, have strongly criticized the decision, arguing that the cuts target critical foreign aid efforts and could have severe consequences for global health and development initiatives. The House Majority Leader, Steve Scalise, R-La., acknowledged that the measure was a starting point for controlling spending, but the Democratic Party has framed it as a move to stifle essential foreign assistance programs, particularly in regions affected by poverty or conflict.
Additionally, the passage of the bill was not without controversy, as it coincided with an ongoing debate over the Jeffrey Epstein case. While the Epstein-related matters were largely sidelined, they did play a role in delaying the process, with Democrats repeatedly attempting to use the issue to pressure Republicans to support the release of the so-called