House Approves Trump’s $9 Billion Cuts to Public Media and Foreign Aid

WASHINGTON — July 18, 2025 — The House of Representatives has approved President Donald Trump’s request to cut about $9 billion from previously approved government funding. The cuts mostly affect public broadcasting and foreign aid programs. The final vote was close — 216 to 213 — and the bill now goes to the president for his signature.

This marks the first time in decades that a president’s request to cancel previously approved spending, known as a rescissions request, has passed. It also shows the Republican Party’s push to reduce funding for programs they say no longer reflect their values.

Major Cuts to Public Broadcasting and Foreign Aid

The bill includes:

• $1.1 billion in cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), removing all of its federal funding for the next two years.
• Nearly $8 billion in cuts to foreign aid, including money for humanitarian aid and global development programs.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) called the bill a move toward “fiscal sanity.” But Democrats strongly opposed it.

“No one believes Republicans are truly targeting wasteful spending,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.).

The Senate had already passed the bill 51–48 along party lines. The House vote was delayed while Republicans and Democrats argued over a separate issue involving Jeffrey Epstein-related documents.

Public Broadcasting Faces Full Federal Cut

The $1.1 billion cut eliminates all federal support for the CPB, which funds over 1,500 public TV and radio stations across the U.S., including NPR and PBS.

The White House defended the cut, calling public broadcasting “politically biased” and no longer necessary.

However, even some Republican senators raised concerns, especially for rural communities that rely on public stations for emergency alerts.

“This isn’t just your news — it’s your tsunami alert, your volcano alert,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska).

On the same day the Senate debated the bill, a 7.3-magnitude earthquake near the Alaska Peninsula triggered tsunami warnings — shared through local public stations.

Deep Cuts to Foreign Aid Programs

The bill also cuts:

• $800 million for refugee assistance
• $500 million for food, water, and health aid in crisis zones
• $4.15 billion for global development and democracy-building programs

Democrats say the cuts could reduce America’s influence around the world and give more room for countries like China to step in.

“This isn’t America First — it’s China First,” said Rep. Jeffries on the House floor.

The White House argues the cuts will encourage other countries to take more responsibility and help ease the burden on U.S. taxpayers.

“This is the people’s money,” said Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), head of the House Rules Committee.

A controversial $400 million cut to PEPFAR, a global program fighting HIV/AIDS, was removed after pushback from both parties.

Worries Over How the Bill Was Passed

Some lawmakers are concerned that the rescissions process bypasses the usual bipartisan budgeting process. Because these types of bills need only a simple majority in the Senate, Republicans were able to pass it without any Democratic support.

“This undercuts Congress’s power over federal spending,” said Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), one of only two Republicans to vote against the bill.

Even some Republicans who voted for the bill had concerns.

“Let’s not make a habit of this,” said Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), who criticized the White House for not providing enough details.

More Budget Cuts on the Way

Russ Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, said more rescission packages could be coming soon.

“We’re willing to go the distance to make this happen,” he said during a press briefing.

Although the $9 billion in cuts are a small part of the overall federal budget, the White House sees this as a symbolic win in its larger effort to reduce government spending.