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| Senate Republicans advance Trump bill to cancel $9bn in approved spending | Senate Republicans advance Trump bill to cancel $9bn in approved spending |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| President is looking to claw back money from public media and foreign aid programs to purportedly control US debt | President is looking to claw back money from public media and foreign aid programs to purportedly control US debt |
| Senate Republicans on Tuesday advanced Donald Trump’s request to cancel about $9bn in previously approved spending, overcoming concerns about what the rescissions could mean for impoverished people around the globe and for public radio and television stations in their home states. | Senate Republicans on Tuesday advanced Donald Trump’s request to cancel about $9bn in previously approved spending, overcoming concerns about what the rescissions could mean for impoverished people around the globe and for public radio and television stations in their home states. |
| JD Vance broke the tie on the procedural vote, allowing the measure to advance, 51-50. | JD Vance broke the tie on the procedural vote, allowing the measure to advance, 51-50. |
| A final vote in the Senate could occur as early as Wednesday. The bill would then return to the House for another vote before it would go to the US president’s desk for his signature before a Friday deadline. | A final vote in the Senate could occur as early as Wednesday. The bill would then return to the House for another vote before it would go to the US president’s desk for his signature before a Friday deadline. |
| Republicans winnowed down the president’s request by taking out his proposed $400m cut to a program known as Pepfar. That change increased the prospects for the bill’s passage. The politically popular program is credited with saving millions of lives since its creation under then president George W Bush to combat HIV/Aids. | Republicans winnowed down the president’s request by taking out his proposed $400m cut to a program known as Pepfar. That change increased the prospects for the bill’s passage. The politically popular program is credited with saving millions of lives since its creation under then president George W Bush to combat HIV/Aids. |
| Trump is also looking to claw back money for foreign aid programs targeted by his so-called “department of government efficiency” and for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. | Trump is also looking to claw back money for foreign aid programs targeted by his so-called “department of government efficiency” and for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. |
| “When you’ve got a $36tn debt, we have to do something to get spending under control,” said the Senate majority leader, John Thune. | “When you’ve got a $36tn debt, we have to do something to get spending under control,” said the Senate majority leader, John Thune. |
| Republicans met with Russ Vought, the director of the White House office of management and budget, during their weekly conference luncheon as the White House worked to address their concerns. He fielded about 20 questions from senators. There was some back-and-forth, but many of the concerns were focused on working toward a resolution, either through arrangements with the administration directly or via an amendment to the bill, said North Dakota senator John Hoeven. | Republicans met with Russ Vought, the director of the White House office of management and budget, during their weekly conference luncheon as the White House worked to address their concerns. He fielded about 20 questions from senators. There was some back-and-forth, but many of the concerns were focused on working toward a resolution, either through arrangements with the administration directly or via an amendment to the bill, said North Dakota senator John Hoeven. |
| The White House campaign to win over potential holdouts had some success. South Dakota senator Mike Rounds tweeted that he would vote to support the measure after working with the administration to “find Green New Deal money that could be reallocated to continue grants to tribal radio stations without interruption”. | The White House campaign to win over potential holdouts had some success. South Dakota senator Mike Rounds tweeted that he would vote to support the measure after working with the administration to “find Green New Deal money that could be reallocated to continue grants to tribal radio stations without interruption”. |
| Some senators worried that the cuts to public media could decimate many of the 1,500 local radio and television stations around the country that rely on some federal funding to operate. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting distributes more than 70% of its funding to those stations. | Some senators worried that the cuts to public media could decimate many of the 1,500 local radio and television stations around the country that rely on some federal funding to operate. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting distributes more than 70% of its funding to those stations. |
| Maine senator Susan Collins, the Republican chair of the Senate appropriations committee, said the substitute package marked “progress”, but she still raised issues with it, particularly on a lack of specifics from the White House. She questioned how the package could still total $9bn while also protecting programs that Republicans favor. | Maine senator Susan Collins, the Republican chair of the Senate appropriations committee, said the substitute package marked “progress”, but she still raised issues with it, particularly on a lack of specifics from the White House. She questioned how the package could still total $9bn while also protecting programs that Republicans favor. |
| Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said she didn’t want the Senate to be going through numerous rounds of rescissions. | Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said she didn’t want the Senate to be going through numerous rounds of rescissions. |
| “We are lawmakers. We should be legislating,” Murkowski said. “What we’re getting now is a direction from the White House and being told: ‘This is the priority and we want you to execute on it. We’ll be back with you with another round.’ I don’t accept that.” | “We are lawmakers. We should be legislating,” Murkowski said. “What we’re getting now is a direction from the White House and being told: ‘This is the priority and we want you to execute on it. We’ll be back with you with another round.’ I don’t accept that.” |
| But the large majority of Republicans were supportive of Trump’s request. | But the large majority of Republicans were supportive of Trump’s request. |
| “This bill is a first step in a long but necessary fight to put our nation’s fiscal house in order,” said Missouri senator Eric Schmitt. | “This bill is a first step in a long but necessary fight to put our nation’s fiscal house in order,” said Missouri senator Eric Schmitt. |
| Democrats oppose the package. They see Trump’s request as an effort to erode the Senate filibuster. They also warn that it is absurd to expect them to work with Republicans on bipartisan spending measures if Republicans turn around a few months later and use their majority to cut the parts they don’t like. | Democrats oppose the package. They see Trump’s request as an effort to erode the Senate filibuster. They also warn that it is absurd to expect them to work with Republicans on bipartisan spending measures if Republicans turn around a few months later and use their majority to cut the parts they don’t like. |
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| “It shreds the appropriations process,” Angus King, an independent senator from Maine who caucuses with Democrats. “The appropriations committee, and indeed this body, becomes a rubber stamp for whatever the administration wants.” | “It shreds the appropriations process,” Angus King, an independent senator from Maine who caucuses with Democrats. “The appropriations committee, and indeed this body, becomes a rubber stamp for whatever the administration wants.” |
| Democratic leader Chuck Schumer cautioned that tens of millions of Americans rely on local public radio and television stations for local news, weather alerts and educational programs. He warned that many could lose access to that information because of the rescissions. | Democratic leader Chuck Schumer cautioned that tens of millions of Americans rely on local public radio and television stations for local news, weather alerts and educational programs. He warned that many could lose access to that information because of the rescissions. |
| “And these cuts couldn’t come at a worse time,” Schumer said. “The floods in Texas remind us that speedy alerts and up-to-the-minute forecasts can mean the difference between life and death.” | “And these cuts couldn’t come at a worse time,” Schumer said. “The floods in Texas remind us that speedy alerts and up-to-the-minute forecasts can mean the difference between life and death.” |
| Democrats also scoffed at the GOP’s stated motivation for taking up the bill. The amount of savings pales compared with the $3.4tn in projected deficits over the next decade that Republicans put in motion in passing Trump’s big tax-and-spending bill two weeks ago. | Democrats also scoffed at the GOP’s stated motivation for taking up the bill. The amount of savings pales compared with the $3.4tn in projected deficits over the next decade that Republicans put in motion in passing Trump’s big tax-and-spending bill two weeks ago. |
| “Now, Republicans are pretending they are concerned about the debt,” said Washington senator Patty Murray. “So concerned that they need to shut down local radio stations, so concerned they are going to cut off Sesame Street ... The idea that that is about balancing the debt is laughable.” | “Now, Republicans are pretending they are concerned about the debt,” said Washington senator Patty Murray. “So concerned that they need to shut down local radio stations, so concerned they are going to cut off Sesame Street ... The idea that that is about balancing the debt is laughable.” |
| With Republicans providing enough votes to take up the bill, it sets up the potential for 10 hours of debate plus votes on scores of potentially thorny amendments in what is known as a vote-a-rama. The House has already shown its support for the president’s request with a mostly party line 214-212 vote, but since the Senate is amending the bill, it will have to go back to the House for another vote. | With Republicans providing enough votes to take up the bill, it sets up the potential for 10 hours of debate plus votes on scores of potentially thorny amendments in what is known as a vote-a-rama. The House has already shown its support for the president’s request with a mostly party line 214-212 vote, but since the Senate is amending the bill, it will have to go back to the House for another vote. |
| Republicans who vote against the measure also face the prospect of incurring Trump’s wrath. He has issued a warning on his social media site directly aimed at individual Senate Republicans who may be considering voting against the rescissions package. He said it was important that all Republicans adhere to the bill and in particular defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. | Republicans who vote against the measure also face the prospect of incurring Trump’s wrath. He has issued a warning on his social media site directly aimed at individual Senate Republicans who may be considering voting against the rescissions package. He said it was important that all Republicans adhere to the bill and in particular defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. |
| “Any Republican that votes to allow this monstrosity to continue broadcasting will not have my support or Endorsement,” he said. | “Any Republican that votes to allow this monstrosity to continue broadcasting will not have my support or Endorsement,” he said. |