UPDATE: The U.S. House of Representatives has just approved a dramatic measure to cut $9 billion in previously authorized funding for public broadcasting and foreign aid, sending the legislation to President Donald Trump for final approval. This urgent decision, which took place early on Friday, follows a tense debate that delayed proceedings due to a controversial issue surrounding the Epstein files.
The vote concluded with a narrow margin of 216-213, primarily along party lines. Notably, two Republican representatives, Brian Fitzpatrick from Pennsylvania and Mike Turner from Ohio, joined all Democrats in opposing the cuts. The Senate had cleared the rescissions package a day earlier with a 51-48 vote, where Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine also voted against it.
Trump took to Truth Social to express his approval, stating: “REPUBLICANS HAVE TRIED DOING THIS FOR 40 YEARS, AND FAILED….BUT NO MORE. THIS IS BIG!!!” His statement criticized public broadcasting funding, emphasizing that the cuts will target “ATROCIOUS NPR AND PUBLIC BROADCASTING, WHERE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS A YEAR WERE WASTED.”
The rescissions package enables the Trump administration to reclaim $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which supports networks such as PBS and NPR. An additional $8 billion will be clawed back from foreign aid programs, including allocations to USAID.
After the bill’s passage, House Speaker Mike Johnson tweeted: “President Trump and House Republicans promised fiscal responsibility and government efficiency. Today, we’re once again delivering on that promise…The American people will no longer be forced to fund politically biased media and more than $8 billion in outrageous expenses overseas.”
This legislative move marks a significant shift in funding priorities, aiming to enhance fiscal responsibility in the federal budget. As the bill now heads to the president’s desk, the implications for public broadcasting and international aid will be closely watched by both supporters and opponents of the cuts.
Developments are ongoing, and the potential impact on public media services and foreign aid distribution could reshape funding landscapes across the country. Stay tuned for updates as this story unfolds.
