Senate Republicans narrowly passed a $9 billion recessions package aimed at eliminating “waste, fraud, and abuse” identified by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) early on Thursday morning.
The Senate voted 51-48, with Senators Susan Collins (R., Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R., Alaska) joining Democrats in opposing it. The package will now be sent to the House, which must pass it before a Friday deadline.
Under the Impoundment Control Act, Congress had 45 days to act on the White House’s rescissions request in early June if it wished to ignore the filibuster threshold.
The bill will end $8 billion in funding for foreign aid programs, such as Iraqi Sesame Street and global LGBTQ+ initiatives, and $1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds PBS and NPR.
Senate leaders spared planned cuts to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a Bush-era HIV and AIDS prevention program. The White House reportedly agreed to exempt PEPFAR from the cuts after numerous senators expressed concern about suspending funding.
The Senate passed the legislation after a lengthy voting session on amendments that lasted over 12 hours. Democrats tried to remove numerous provisions from the bill, but were unsuccessful in every attempt. Senator Mitch McConnell (R., Kentucky) voted against earlier procedural votes to advance the package, but ultimately voted for the bill.
“Americans trusted us to eliminate Joe Biden’s frivolous, wasteful spending that created the worst inflation in decades,” wrote Senator Tom Cotton in an X post. “Our vote early this morning was just the start. Senate Republicans will continue to enact President Trump’s agenda and deliver the savings the American people voted for.”
The administration had been working for weeks to convince Republicans to support the plan, while President Trump warned lawmakers to pass the bill. He posted on Truth Social, “Any Republican that votes to allow this monstrosity to continue broadcasting will not have my support or Endorsement. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
The House initially passed the package last month, but it is now required to vote on the Senate’s version of the legislation. House Speaker Mike Johnson had encouraged Senate Republicans to avoid making changes to the bill, but he vowed to get “whatever they send us” passed.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., New York) said on X, “This is a dark day for America, a dark day for rural Americans, a dark day for any American who relies on public broadcasting during floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and other disasters.”
Congress is expected to pass the rescissions package, which would mark a major win for the Trump administration. Further requests to implement DOGE cuts are expected to follow in the coming months.