Live updates: Congress debates $9 billion cuts on foreign aid and public media
A final vote in the Senate could occur as early as today. The bill would then return to the House for another vote before it would go to Trump's desk for his signature before a Friday deadline.
Republicans winnowed down the president's request by taking out his proposed $400 million 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.
The president is also looking to claw back money for foreign aid programs targeted by his Department of Government Efficiency and for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Update:
Date: 2025-07-16 12:21:59
Title:
Some Republicans remain skeptical of the rescissions package
Content: Maine Sen. Susan Collins, the Republican chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said she was particularly concerned about a lack of specifics from the White House.
'Nobody really knows what program reductions are in it,' Collins said. 'That isn't because we haven't had time to review the bill. Instead, the problem is that OMB has never provided the details that would normally be part of this process.'
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-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.'
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Collins and Murkowski joined with Democrats in voting against the Senate taking up the measure, but the large majority of Republicans were supportive of Trump's request.
Update:
Date: 2025-07-16 12:06:00
Title:
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Content:
Update:
Date: 2025-07-16 12:02:10
Title:
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Content: AP Morning Wire curates the most important stories and sends them straight to your inbox. Sign up for the free newsletter here.
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