Senate Republicans have advanced President Donald Trump’s $9 billion spending clawback package through its final procedural hurdle with the support of Vice President JD Vance, setting the stage for an extended 10-hour debate. Lawmakers are anticipated to face significant opposition from Senate Democrats, who are expected to accuse the bill of its harsh cuts to foreign aid and public broadcasting funding. The bipartisan resistance to the foreign aid cuts has been apparent, though Trump’s smaller, $9 billion package passed with nearly all Senate Republicans, while all Senate Democrats voted against it. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, and Mitch McConnell were the only Republicans to oppose the bill.
Once the debate is concluded, the bill will face another round of votes where unlimited amendments can be proposed from both sides of the aisle. Democrats are likely to attempt to delay or block the passage of the bill, while the GOP plans to introduce an amendment that would preserve approximately $40,000 million in international HIV and AIDS funding from the cut. The carveout for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has already been agreed upon and is backed by the White House. Nevertheless, trimming funding from this program has caused some Senate Republicans to express concerns, warning that they might not support the bill without a resolution to the issue.
However, the proposed funding cut has proven to be a difficult sell to the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has instructed Senate Republicans not to alter the bill. He has been joined by fiscal hawks in the House Freedom Caucus, who have insisted that the Senate GOP stay consistent with the rescission package and warned that they would have serious issues if changes were made. They have not gone as far as to declare a full rebellion against the bill. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has expressed hope that his colleagues in the lower chamber would cooperate and pass the bill before the looming Friday deadline, stating that there was great interest among members in addressing the PEPFAR issue. This interest is reflected in the substitute amendment, and Thune hopes that if the Senate moves the bill forward, the House will accept the one minor modification.