Republicans slash $9.4 billion from 'radical left monsters' NPR and PBS following Elon Musk's DOGE cuts
House Republicans have passed a DOGE-inspired measure to cut billions in spending, including taxpayer cash for public broadcasters NPR and PBS.
A $9.4 billion package, suggested by the White House to Congress, passed through the House Thursday on a razor thin 214 - 212 vote. It will soon head to the GOP-controlled Senate.
The bill formally withdraws funding previously approved by Congress for foreign aid, public broadcasters and more.
It is the first of what GOP leaders expect to be many so-called 'rescission' packages where the White House asks lawmakers to rethink their approval of certain programs.
The bill specifically contains 21 budget rescissions, many identified by DOGE.
If Congress does not vote on DOGE's findings, the money won't stop flowing to the myriad programs flagged for fraud, waste and abuse by the group formerly led by Elon Musk.
Over $8 billion in USAID funding for social foreign aid programs abroad, like operas for transgender people and pro-LGBT groups throughout the world, is also on the chopping block.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., called the cuts to 'George W. Bush-era' global AIDS prevention programs 'reckless' during a briefing on Thursday.
But Republican Speaker Mike Johnson has said 'there is no reason for any media organization to be singled out to receive federal funds.'
The bill is a major Trump priority.
'Republicans must defund and totally disassociate themselves from NPR & PBS, the radical left 'monsters' that so badly hurt our country!' Trump posted on social media last month.
Within days he signed an executive order to cease funding the 'radical, woke propaganda disguised as news,' and the rescission bill is the first step in that process.
The bill passed by the House Thursday includes $1.1 billion in cuts for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a nonprofit created by Congress to oversee the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and National Public Radio (NPR) - outlets Trump and Republicans see as left-leaning and hostile.
The package rescinds $535 million from the CPB that was allocated in FY2024 and meant to be spent next year FY2026, which begins on October 1, 2025.
It also rescinds another $535 million in CPB funds meant to be spent in FY2027.
Just before the vote the president urged GOP lawmakers to back the DOGE bill.
'For decades, Republicans have promised to cut NPR, but have never done it, until now. NPR and PBS are a radical left disaster, and 1000 percent against the Republican Party!'
'The Rescissions Bill is a no brainer, and every single Republican in Congress should vote, 'yes,'' he wrote on Truth Social.
PBS, for example, received $325 million in CPB funding this year.
'NPR typically receives about 1 percent of its funding directly from the federal government, and a slightly greater amount indirectly; its 246 member institutions, operating more than 1,000 stations, receive on average 8 percent to 10 percent of their funds from CPB,' NPR said.
The White House order claims 'neither entity presents a fair, accurate or unbiased portrayal of current events to tax-paying citizens.'
Speaker Johnson affirmed Trump's effort telling reporters there's no reason any media organization should be 'singled out to receive federal funds.'
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought said in a letter to the president the rescissions would cut Green New Deal-type programs as well as equity programs and World Health Organization (WHO) funding.
House Republicans celebrated the Trump-backed bill's passage.
'Under President Trump's leadership, your taxpayer dollars are no longer being wasted. Instead, they are being directed toward priorities that truly benefit the American people,' Johnson released in a statement.
'Today's House passage of this initial rescissions package marks a critical step toward a more responsible and transparent government that puts the interests of the American taxpayers first.
Though before the vote the speaker did note there was some questions still swirling in his caucus.
'There was some concern but I think we've addressed everybody's concerns,' Johnson said confidently Thursday morning.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters this week that the upper chamber will take up the DOGE-inspired measure some time after passing Trump's Big Beautiful Bill Act, which the president wants done before Independence Day.
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