US Congress approves $9 billion in foreign aid and public broadcasting cuts proposed by Trump.
US Congress Approves $9 Billion in Trump-Backed Cuts to Foreign Aid, Public Broadcasting
In a narrow late-night vote, the Republican-controlled US Congress passed a bill slashing $9 billion in federal funding—mostly from foreign aid and public broadcasting—fulfilling a major promise by former President Donald Trump to rein in government spending. The measure, approved 216–213 in the House after already clearing the Senate, now awaits Trump’s signature.
The cuts, championed by Trump and House Republicans as a step toward “fiscal responsibility,” include over $1.1 billion previously allocated to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and programs assisting countries facing war, disease, or natural disasters. Initially, $400 million was also set to be removed from a global AIDS program credited with saving millions of lives, but that portion was spared after pushback from moderate Republicans.
House Speaker Mike Johnson hailed the vote as a victory: “President Trump and House Republicans promised fiscal responsibility and government efficiency. Today, we’re once again delivering on that promise.” Trump celebrated the move on Truth Social, calling it a historic success that had eluded Republicans for four decades.
Democrats, however, condemned the bill as reckless, warning it jeopardizes essential services and threatens bipartisan agreements. “This legislation is extreme and dangerous,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. “It puts us on the path to a devastating government shutdown.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the decision “a dark day” for Americans who rely on public broadcasters during emergencies like floods or hurricanes.
The vote is a symbolic victory for Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative originally led by Elon Musk before his dramatic departure earlier this year. Despite the $9 billion cut, the savings represent only a sliver of the broader $1 trillion in reductions Musk had vowed to pursue.
With funding negotiations looming and Republicans lacking a filibuster-proof Senate majority, cooperation with Democrats will be essential to avoid a government shutdown later this year—though Friday’s vote may have deepened the divide.
