The U.S. Senate has approved a request from the Trump administration to cancel $9.4 billion in federal spending, with major cuts targeting foreign aid, as well as funding for NPR and PBS.
The bill narrowly passed in a 51–48 vote late Wednesday, July 16, and now moves to the House of Representatives, where final approval is expected by July 18, according to CNN. If passed, it will go to former President Donald Trump for his signature.
The proposed cuts were first introduced in early June when House Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed the White House had submitted the plan to Congress. Johnson described the targeted funds as “wasteful,” a sentiment echoed by the Department of Government Efficiency.
In a related move, Trump signed an executive order in May to stop federal funding for NPR and PBS, accusing the public broadcasters of “biased reporting.” This decision sparked legal action: on May 27, NPR and several Colorado-based radio stations filed a lawsuit against the administration, claiming the move was an attempt to undermine press freedom.
