Trump Moves to Slash Liberal Program Budgets \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The White House formally requested Congress to rescind $9.4 billion in previously approved spending, targeting programs linked to liberal initiatives and foreign aid. The move supports Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and arrives amid Musk’s criticism of rising federal deficits. The rescission effort is unlikely to significantly impact the national debt but signals a broader fiscal agenda.
Quick Looks
- Trump seeks congressional approval to cut $9.4 billion.
- Rescission targets programs linked to liberal priorities.
- DOGE-backed cuts include State Department, NPR, PBS, USAID.
- Funds also cut for foreign health and social programs.
- Musk criticizes federal spending, calls budget “abomination.”
- Cuts include $750K for xenophobia reduction in Venezuela.
- Other programs include insect powder for kids in Madagascar.
- White House cites need to “restore fiscal sanity.”
- Russ Vought leads budget cuts, more expected soon.
- Congress has 45 days to approve rescissions request.
- Freedom Caucus urges Speaker Johnson to fast-track package.
- Legal experts question Trump admin’s budget withholding methods.
Deep Look
In a bold fiscal move, the White House on Tuesday submitted a formal request to Congress to rescind $9.4 billion in already approved spending. This rollback initiative, known as a “rescission”, would strip funds from dozens of programs the Trump administration labels as wasteful or ideologically left-leaning — a signature effort by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The rescission proposal is a procedural but symbolic gesture in line with President Donald Trump’s broader goal to reshape federal spending around his conservative policy platform. While the targeted cuts represent just a sliver — roughly 0.1% — of the estimated $7 trillion federal budget for 2025, the political significance is far greater.
“This is about reestablishing fiscal sanity and removing unnecessary, ideologically driven expenditures,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. She credited budget director Russ Vought, a former OMB chief and long-time Trump loyalist, as the architect of the plan. Leavitt hinted that further rescissions could follow, calling Vought a “well-respected fiscal hawk” with more tools to reduce spending.
The rescission package zeroes in on programs Trump’s allies have frequently criticized. According to a White House Office of Management and Budget official, $8.3 billion would come from the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Also on the chopping block: public broadcasters NPR and PBS, which have long been in the crosshairs of conservative lawmakers.
The administration listed examples of the types of programs to be defunded:
- $750,000 for anti-xenophobia initiatives in Venezuela
- $67,000 for child nutrition programs using insect powder in Madagascar
- $3 million for contraceptive services in Zambia, including circumcision, vasectomies, and condoms
The timing of the rescission request is politically notable, arriving just as Elon Musk openly criticized the tax and spending bill currently making its way through Congress. Musk called the package a “disgusting abomination,” citing concerns over its contribution to the growing federal deficit. The rescission move, therefore, is not just a budget cut — it is also a nod to Musk-aligned governance, reinforcing DOGE’s vision of a leaner, ideology-free government.
Still, the rescission effort faces legislative hurdles. Under the 1974 Impoundment Control Act, Congress must approve any formal attempt by the executive branch to withhold or return previously allocated funds. Lawmakers have 45 legislative days to either approve or ignore the request. If no action is taken, the funds must remain available for spending.
Support from conservatives in the House is strong. The Freedom Caucus, a bloc of ultra-conservative Republicans, issued a press release calling on House Speaker Mike Johnson to bring the package to the floor immediately.
“We will support as many more rescissions packages the White House can send us in the coming weeks and months,” the caucus said. “Passing this rescissions package will be an important demonstration of Congress’s willingness to deliver on DOGE and the Trump agenda.”
Critics argue that the administration may already be on shaky legal ground. Bobby Kogan, senior director of federal budget policy at the Center for American Progress, claimed in a statement that the administration was already “illegally impounding” funds — withholding money without proper Congressional approval. Kogan warned that such actions violate the Constitution’s separation of powers and the explicit requirements of the Impoundment Control Act.
Russ Vought, however, defended the administration’s position during a CNN interview. “We’re not breaking the law,” he said. “Each branch of government must interpret the Constitution for itself. There will always be tension, but we are operating within our legal boundaries.”
Although the cuts won’t substantially reduce the $36 trillion national debt or the projected $1.5 trillion annual deficit, they highlight the administration’s commitment to an ideologically charged overhaul of federal programs. The effort also underscores the influence of Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, which continues to act as a disruptive force in Washington’s traditional budget-making process.
As the rescission package moves to Congress, its fate will likely become a litmus test for conservative lawmakers: whether they align with Trump and DOGE’s minimalist vision of government, or whether they resist a potentially controversial withdrawal of targeted social and humanitarian aid.
Trump Moves to Slash Trump Moves to Slash
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