The U.S. Senate narrowly approved a $9 billion federal spending rescission package early Thursday in a 51–48 vote, marking a win for President Donald Trump’s effort to reduce government spending. The plan includes cuts to foreign aid and ends federal subsidies for NPR and PBS. Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine joined Democrats in opposing the measure.
The bill now returns to the House of Representatives, which previously passed a slightly larger $9.4 billion version. To secure enough support in the Senate, lawmakers restored $400 million in AIDS funding for Africa, reducing the overall cuts.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune described the vote as an important first step toward improving fiscal responsibility after years of large federal deficits. However, Collins said she could not support the proposal due to limited details provided by the Office of Management and Budget, particularly regarding how certain programs would be affected.
Murkowski and Collins also expressed concern about cuts to public broadcasting, warning they could harm rural radio stations that often provide critical emergency alerts and community information.
