Senate Confronts Trump Administration Over Deep Cuts to Public Broadcasting and Foreign Aid
Senate Confronts Trump Administration Over Deep Cuts to Public Broadcasting and Foreign Aid
A contentious battle is unfolding in the Senate as lawmakers from both sides of the aisle push back against the Trump administration’s proposed $9 billion in federal funding rescissions. The cuts, detailed in a request sent to Congress last month, target crucial programs, including public broadcasting and various international aid initiatives.
During a recent Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought defended the administration’s rationale. He argued that foreign aid programs were “antithetical to American interests” and that federal spending on the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) “subsidizes a public media system that is politically biased and is an unnecessary expense to the taxpayer.”
However, senators expressed significant skepticism and concern. Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins, chairing the committee, highlighted that 70% of the federal dollars slated for public broadcasting support local programming and emergency communications. While acknowledging past concerns about NPR’s perceived partisan slant, Collins stressed that “more targeted approaches” exist than a complete defunding of CPB. OMB Director Vought assured the committee that emergency broadcasting services funded by CPB would remain safe, suggesting local stations would have “ample time to adjust” to the cuts.
Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a vocal opponent of the public broadcasting cuts, pressed Vought on the impact on rural stations, many of which rely on federal funding for up to 70% of their budgets. She warned that many of these vital stations would “go under” without federal support. Vought committed to working with Murkowski on funding for rural stations, yet reiterated long-standing Republican efforts to address public funding of content.
The vast majority of the $9.4 billion in proposed cuts are aimed at foreign aid programs addressing global public health, international disaster assistance, and hunger relief. However, nearly $1.1 billion of the package targets CPB funding for 2026 and 2027. CPB, a private nonprofit, distributes most of its funds to local public television and radio stations, with PBS receiving about 15% of its annual revenue through CPB, and NPR directly receiving about 1%.
Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democrat on the panel, questioned the legality of the White House’s request, citing the 1974 Impoundment Control Act, which requires congressional approval within 45 days—a deadline set for July 18. Murray warned that the CPB cuts would “rip away funding that supports over 1500 local public TV and radio stations,” disproportionately harming rural communities and “our kids” who rely on “free, high-quality programming.”
Both NPR and PBS have issued statements underscoring the critical role of federal support. PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger emphasized the bipartisan backing for their services, which she stated “cannot be replaced by commercial media.”
Further complicating the administration’s position, Kentucky Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell voiced concerns over the foreign aid cuts, fearing they could create “vacuums for adversaries like China to fill” in critical global regions. Senator Collins also expressed frustration over the administration’s lack of consultation with the committee before submitting the rescission request.
The measure narrowly passed the House earlier this month by a 214-212 vote, with two Republican lawmakers changing their votes at the last minute. With Democrats united against the bill in the Senate, the White House can afford to lose no more than three Republican votes to secure its passage, setting the stage for a tense legislative showdown ahead of the July 18 deadline.
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