Senate Republicans voted early Thursday morning to approve a rescissions package of $9 billion in spending cuts from previously approved funding. The House followed suit Friday and adopt the legislation giving the President another big legislative victory in less than a month. GOP Senate leaders quelled a revolt from members of the powerful Appropriations Committee who were concerned by the cuts. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) hailed the bill as a key piece of Trump’s legislative agenda and an important “down payment” on reducing the size of the federal government.
The rescission package is a formal request from the President to Congress to cancel previously approved spending, essentially clawing back funds that were allocated to specific programs or agencies. A rescission requires congressional approval, and if granted, the funds are no longer available for the intended purpose. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) headed at the time by Elon Musk attempted to cut funding from a variety of programs previously funded by Congress. The rescission package adopts the cuts targeted at the Agency for International Development as well as from the Public Broadcasting Service and National Public Radio.