House to Vote on Trump-Backed Cuts to NPR, PBS, Foreign Aid

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House to Vote on Trump-Backed Cuts to NPR, PBS, Foreign Aid/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ House Republicans are set to vote on a $9.4 billion rescission package targeting NPR, PBS, and foreign aid. President Trump’s administration pushes the cuts as part of a broader efficiency agenda tied to Elon Musk’s previous leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency. Democrats argue the proposal would hurt global stability, undermine public services, and damage U.S. credibility abroad.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., left, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., hold a news conference on the GOP reconciliation bill, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Trump’s Budget Cut Plan – Quick Looks

Proposed Cut Amount: $9.4 billion in previously approved federal spending.
Key Targets: NPR, PBS, global health aid, refugee support, and foreign development programs.
Legislative Mechanism: Rarely-used “rescission request” freezing funds for 45 days.
Corporation for Public Broadcasting: Facing $1.1 billion cut across next two years.
Foreign Aid Reductions: Cuts include $900M for global health, $800M for refugee relief, and $4.2B for development initiatives.
Democratic Opposition: Leaders warn of humanitarian fallout and declining U.S. influence abroad.
Republican Justification: GOP frames cuts as necessary cost savings and anti-waste measures aligned with “America First.”
DOGE’s Role: Trump ties cuts to Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency findings.
Impact on Public Media: Local stations, especially rural ones, warn closures could follow.
Next Steps: House vote Thursday, simple majority needed in Senate for passage.

FILE – The headquarters for National Public Radio (NPR) is seen in Washington, April 15, 2013. AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)

House Eyes Cuts to Public Broadcasting, Foreign Aid – Deep Look

WASHINGTON (AP) — A sweeping $9.4 billion rollback in federal spending heads to a House vote Thursday as President Donald Trump intensifies his campaign to eliminate what he calls “wasteful spending,” including funding for public broadcasting and international aid programs.

The rescission package — the first major budgetary rollback request of Trump’s second term — aims to undo previously approved funds across a wide range of programs. The proposal aligns with findings from the now-defunct Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), previously headed by Elon Musk, and represents a key step in advancing Trump’s renewed “America First” budget agenda.

What’s on the Chopping Block?

The cuts target:

$1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, effectively gutting support for NPR, PBS, and over 1,500 local stations nationwide.
$900 million from global health programs, including $500 million for infectious disease and maternal care and $400 million to fight HIV.
$800 million for refugee relief, including shelters, water sanitation, and family reunification.
$4.2 billion (nearly 45% of the package) from international development programs aimed at supporting civil societies and democracy abroad.

These rescissions arrive as Trump looks to control spending following the passage of a massive tax and immigration bill, and GOP lawmakers seek to offset anticipated increases in deficits.

Why NPR and PBS?

Trump and Republicans have long claimed public broadcasting outlets reflect liberal bias, a view reinforced by conservative grassroots groups. Defunding NPR and PBS has been a repeated refrain, especially among House Freedom Caucus members.

Critics say the move is more than symbolic — it could cripple rural public stations, which rely heavily on federal grants for local news, emergency alerts, and educational programming. The Association of Public Television Stations warned closures are imminent if Congress approves the measure.

“Cruelty is the point,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, describing the move as an ideological attack, not a fiscal necessity.

Cuts to Foreign Aid Under Fire

The Trump administration also targets U.S. foreign aid, asserting that taxpayer dollars should serve domestic interests first. Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) cited expenditures on pottery classes and DEI initiatives abroad as examples of “woke waste.”

“Let’s just reject this now,” Roy said. “Taxpayers should not be forced to pay for absurd global pet projects.”

But foreign policy experts and humanitarian organizations warn that such cuts will harm global stability — and, in turn, American national security.

“These cuts will lead to the deaths of hundreds of thousands,” said Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA). “This is how we lose influence to China, Russia, and Iran.”

Oxfam America’s president Abby Maxman noted that aid agencies are already struggling to meet growing needs due to past cuts:

“Women, children, and families are going without food, clean water, and essential care.”

How the Process Works

The administration is utilizing a rescission mechanism under the 1974 Budget Control Act. Once the president submits a rescission request, the funds are frozen for 45 days. If Congress approves the request — which needs only a simple majority in the Senate — the funds are permanently canceled.

This procedural move allows Republicans to sidestep the typical 60-vote threshold in the Senate. With a slim GOP majority and no Democratic support expected, the measure could still pass without bipartisan backing.

What’s Next?

The administration has signaled that this vote may be the first of several rescission efforts, presenting a test for both Trump’s fiscal agenda and the party’s unity in the face of looming appropriations battles.

Though relatively small in scope — a fraction of the federal budget — the cuts carry outsized political weight. They are emblematic of Trump’s broader aims to redefine federal priorities and assert tighter ideological control over long-standing public and diplomatic institutions.