Senate Chugs Toward Approval of $9 Billion in DOGE Cuts

Senate Majority Leader John Thune

The Senate on Wednesday kicked off a marathon round of votes on a White House request to claw back billions in funding for foreign aid and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which supports NPR and PBS. The package appears set to pass, though Vice President JD Vance will likely be needed to cast another tie-breaking vote to get it past the finish line.

The White House and Senate Republicans agreed to remove $400 million in proposed cuts to a global AIDS prevention program called PEPFAR from the package, leaving $9 billion in funding clawbacks. Republicans on Wednesday fended off Democratic efforts to shrink the package further. The Senate voted 50-49 to reject an amendment that would have kept roughly $500 million for international disaster relief. Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted with Democrats.

Those three GOPers also joined Democrats Tuesday night in voting against two procedural votes on the rescissions bill, forcing Vice President JD Vance to break two 50-50 ties and advance the package.

Collins, who heads the Senate Appropriations Committee, and McConnell, the former Senate Republican leader, both complained that the White House Office of Management and Budget had not specified what programs would be cut. Murkowski said she opposes the cuts to public broadcasting, which is vital for residents of her state. Murkowski also objected to what she described as the White House’s attempt to direct and intrude upon congressional responsibilities.

The bottom line: Barring any surprises, the Senate is expected to approve the amended rescissions package, sending it back to the House for another vote before the end of the day on Friday. Congress must approve the package by then or the White House would be obligated to spend the funds as appropriated. But Trump appears headed for another legislative victory — one that could pave the way for additional rescissions requests.