Speaker Mike Johnson is turning up the pressure on Senate Republicans to advance President Donald Trump’s $9.4 billion rescissions package ahead of a fast-approaching deadline.
At a press briefing Monday, Johnson emphasized that the package—targeting cuts to public broadcasting and foreign aid—should be a straightforward vote for Senate Republicans. “This should be a pretty simple matter from our perspective,” Johnson said. “I hope they keep it intact.”
The House already passed the rescissions bill in June, but the Senate has shown signs of internal division, with several moderate GOP senators threatening to derail the package unless changes are made. With a 53-47 majority in the Senate, Republicans can afford to lose only three votes.
At the center of the package is a proposed $1.1 billion cut to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds NPR and PBS, and $8.3 billion in cuts to foreign aid—including significant reductions in funding for USAID. The total $9.4 billion request represents less than 0.2% of federal spending, but it has become a key fiscal priority for both the House and the Trump administration.
The proposal has hit a wall with moderates. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), a frequent critic of Trump initiatives, said she will oppose the package unless changes are made to preserve funding for programs like the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Collins has argued that cutting $400 million from the program, even while $10 billion remains, could jeopardize global health efforts that have saved millions of lives.
Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski echoed those concerns, citing the critical role public broadcasting plays in rural communities. “This is their lifeline,” Murkowski told OMB Director Russ Vought during a recent appropriations hearing.
The White House has maintained that the cuts are modest and responsible. Officials argue the rescissions package is a crucial first step toward addressing the $37 trillion national debt.
Johnson reinforced that message Monday. “This is supposed to be the lower hanging fruit,” he said, adding that he’s urging the Senate not to “modify our work.”
Trump, for his part, has warned Republicans not to soften the bill. “Any Republican that votes to allow this monstrosity to continue broadcasting will not have my support or Endorsement,” he posted on Truth Social.