Senate Approves Trump’s $9 Billion Spending Cut Package

 Senate Vote on Spending Cuts

- The U. S. Senate voted on July 16 to pass $9 billion in spending cuts requested by President Donald Trump.

- The bill passed with a 51-48 vote.

- Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) voted against it.

- Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky. ) changed his vote to support the bill after opposing it in an earlier vote.

- Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn. ) missed the vote due to hospitalization.

Key Political Implications

- The spending cuts signify a political win for President Trump and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S. D. ).

- Thune described the cuts as a step toward “fiscal sanity. ”

- The legislation represents one of the largest rescissions passed under the Impoundment Control Act of 1974.

Rescissions and Funding Details

- The cut package is $400 million less than the original House version, excluding cuts to an anti-HIV initiative.

- Most cuts ($7. 9 billion) are from the U. S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

- The alterations mean the bill must return to the House for another vote.

Cuts Impacting PEPFAR and Soft Power

- A proposed $400 million cut to the PEPFAR program, aimed at combating HIV/AIDS, was removed to secure votes.

- Both Mitch McConnell and Collins opposed the USAID cuts due to their importance in projecting U. S. soft power.

- McConnell highlighted the long-term cost savings of soft power versus military interventions.

Corporation for Public Broadcasting Cuts

- $1. 1 billion in cuts target the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, affecting NPR and PBS.

- Bipartisan concerns emerged about the potential impact on local and rural radio stations.

- Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S. D. ) initially opposed the bill but changed after negotiations.

House Reactions and Preferences

- Some House members preferred the Senate to pass the bill “as is” without changes.

- House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La. ) urged the Senate to finalize the bill by the July 18 deadline.

- Other House Republicans echoed the importance of passing the full $9. 4 billion in rescissions.

- Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Va. ) criticized the Senate for not maintaining fiscal responsibility compared to the House. 

https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/senate-approves-trumps-9-billion-spending-cut-package-5888469