President Trump just notched a fiscal victory that’s been elusive for decades. On Thursday night, the House of Representatives passed a $9 billion rescissions package, slashing funds from foreign aid and public broadcasting. This move, a rare win for spending hawks, signals a shift in Washington’s bloated budget battles.
Breitbart reported that the House, in a tight 216-213 vote, approved cuts targeting NPR, PBS, and USAID grants. This rescissions package, submitted by the White House, trims $9 billion from previously appropriated funds for fiscal year 2024, extended into 2025. It’s a modest dent, but a symbolic gut-punch to progressive pet projects.
Congress hasn’t frozen spending year-over-year in living memory, yet here we are. The bill, now awaiting Trump’s signature, ends taxpayer support for public media and international aid programs long criticized by conservatives. It’s a step toward fiscal restraint, though the road ahead is long.
“HOUSE APPROVES NINE BILLION DOLLAR CUTS PACKAGE,” Trump crowed on Truth Social, calling NPR and PBS funding “ATROCIOUS.”
His glee is understandable—spending hawks have chased this dream for 40 years, only to hit establishment roadblocks. But Trump’s outsider momentum just steamrolled the naysayers.
The Senate, often a graveyard for conservative reforms, couldn’t stop this one. Moderate Republicans, who typically clutch their pearls at budget cuts, were outmaneuvered. Trump’s ability to rally enough support shows his grip on the party remains ironclad.
Two House Republicans, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick and Rep. Mike Turner, broke ranks on the procedural vote. Fitzpatrick, fresh off a Fox News proposal, and Turner, a former Intelligence Committee chair, couldn’t stomach the cuts. Their dissent, though, was a footnote in this conservative win.
The rescissions package zeroes out taxpayer subsidies for NPR and PBS. These outlets, long accused of leaning left, won’t get another dime from the public purse. Conservatives cheer, but critics warn of cultural losses—though private donors can surely fill the gap.
USAID grants, another target, face the chopping block. These funds, meant for international development, often get tangled in bureaucratic waste or questionable priorities. Cutting them redirects focus to domestic needs, like Trump’s border security initiatives, which scored extra funding.
The $9 billion cut, while modest, sets a precedent. Future rescissions packages are already being whispered about in Capitol Hill corridors. If Congress keeps this up, the September 30 funding deadline could see even leaner budgets.
Congress’s year-over-year spending freeze is historic. For once, lawmakers didn’t just rubber-stamp more spending. This discipline, paired with the rescissions, hints at a broader push to rein in Washington’s credit card addiction.
Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought didn’t mince words: “The appropriations process has to be less bipartisan.” He’s right—voters aren’t clamoring for cozy deals that balloon deficits. Vought’s jab at bipartisan excess cuts to the heart of why this bill passed.
“There is no voter in the country that went to the polls and said, ‘I’m voting for a bipartisan appropriations process,’” Vought added.
His point lands like a dart: Americans want results, not backroom handshakes. This bill proves Republicans can deliver when they ditch the swamp’s playbook.
The next government funding deadline looms on September 30. Congress must pass new funding bills or extend current levels with a continuing resolution. If more rescissions pass, the baseline will shrink further, a prospect that thrills fiscal conservatives.
Trump’s victory isn’t just about dollars—it’s about momentum. Overcoming establishment resistance in both chambers shows his agenda still has teeth. The Senate’s moderates may grumble, but they’re on notice: the MAGA base demands results.
