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In a tight vote Thursday, the House of Representatives passed a $9.4 billion rescissions package backed by President Donald Trump, targeting foreign aid, public broadcasting, and other spending previously approved by Congress.
The vote, 214-212, was largely along party lines. No Democrats supported the bill, and four Republicans broke ranks to oppose it. The legislation, which must still pass the Senate, is the first step in a Trump administration strategy to reclaim unused or unspent federal funds — a power rarely invoked in recent decades.
The bill eliminates funding for major global health programs, humanitarian aid, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which supports NPR, PBS, and over 1,500 local media outlets — many of them in rural America.
“Cruelty is the point,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), criticizing the cuts for targeting vulnerable populations abroad while attacking public information sources at home.
What’s Getting Cut?
The bill proposes 21 specific rescissions, including:
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$1.1 billion from the CPB, cutting off all federal funding over the next two years.
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$900 million from global health programs, including $500 million for infectious diseases and child/maternal health and $400 million for HIV/AIDS efforts (like PEPFAR).
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$800 million from emergency relief programs, including aid for displaced persons, clean water, and sanitation.
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45% of savings come from development programs to support democracy and civil society abroad.
“This is about putting the American people first,” said Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), defending the cuts as a necessary step toward budget discipline.
Key Players and Drama on the Floor
The vote teetered on the edge of failure before Reps. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) and Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.) switched their votes to “yes” following last-minute conversations with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).
Bacon later said he received reassurances that PBS would be funded next year and that PEPFAR support would remain intact, saying, “Because of these reassurances, I voted yes on H.R. 4.”
“Under President Trump’s leadership, your taxpayer dollars are no longer being wasted,” Johnson said, celebrating the passage.
The measure is part of a broader effort to demonstrate fiscal responsibility amid growing scrutiny of Trump’s sweeping tax and immigration proposals, which are expected to increase federal deficits.
Reactions and Fallout
Opponents warned the bill would harm global stability, strain humanitarian programs, and damage America’s international reputation.
“This bill is good for Russia and China and undertakers,” said Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), criticizing the potential fallout from cuts to education, clean water, and public health abroad.
Patricia Harrison, president and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, called the proposed defunding “disruptive for millions of Americans” who rely on public media for news, education, and emergency alerts.
Advocacy groups such as Oxfam America joined the opposition, saying that ongoing humanitarian crises are already underfunded.
“We are already seeing women, children, and families left without food, clean water and critical services after earlier aid cuts,” said Abby Maxman, Oxfam’s president.
What’s Next?
The Senate is not expected to take up the bill until July, after work on Trump’s immigration and tax proposals. Because rescission bills require only a simple majority, Republicans could advance it without Democratic support if they remain unified.
The Trump administration has signaled that this is just the beginning.
“We view this as a test case,” a senior administration official said, adding that more rescissions could be submitted depending on Senate action.
For now, the vote signals a new phase of budget politics, where cutting foreign aid and defunding public institutions may become central talking points in the 2024 election season.
