Trump’s $9.4 billion spending cuts package seen as ‘test’ for Congress
The upcoming vote on President Donald Trump’s $9.4 billion spending cut proposal is being seen as a test by some of the White House’s conservative House allies. Rep. Chip Roy of Texas believes that this vote will demonstrate whether Congress has the fortitude to cut spending on programs like NPR, PBS, and USAID that have long been criticized for wasteful spending.
The legislation seeking to codify Trump’s spending cut request was unveiled by House GOP leaders on Friday. This rescissions package is expected to get a House-wide vote sometime next week. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise emphasized that this bill aims to cut waste, fraud, and abuse in federal funding and hold agencies accountable to the American people.
The legislation would claw back funding that Congress had previously appropriated to PBS, NPR, and USAID. These cuts were outlined by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency earlier this year. While some Republican leaders and officials anticipate more rescissions requests in the future, they are closely watching how Congress handles this first package.
Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina believes that this spending cuts package is indeed a test for Congress. He emphasized that if Congress cannot pass this package, then they are not serious about cutting the budget. The rescissions package only requires simple majorities in the House and Senate to pass, but Republicans are facing tight majorities and a deadline of 45 days for consideration.
Some lawmakers, like Rep. Lance Gooden of Texas, are confident that the spending cuts will pass without any problems. However, others, like Rep. Paul Winfree, believe that this first rescissions package is a test for Congress to show their ability to cancel wasteful spending.
If Congress fails to pass this spending cuts package, there are other options on the table. One backup plan discussed is the use of \”pocket rescissions,\” where the White House introduces a spending cut proposal less than 45 days before the end of the fiscal year to allow the funds to expire. Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought has expressed openness to this approach.
Some moderate Republicans may have concerns about the conservative spending cuts, particularly in areas like public broadcasting and critical USAID programs. Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska highlighted his concerns about potential cuts to programs fighting Ebola and HIV in Africa.
The legislation is set to go before the House Rules Committee on Tuesday before a House-wide vote. This spending cuts package is separate from Trump’s broader legislative agenda, but it is seen as a crucial test for Congress to show their commitment to fiscal responsibility. Elizabeth Elkind, a politics reporter for Fox News Digital, is leading coverage of the House of Representatives and can be followed on Twitter at @liz_elkind.
