Senate Approves $9B Trump Spending Cuts Bill

The Republican-led Senate narrowly approved President Donald Trump's request to cut approximately $9 billion from federal programs, with a final House vote still pending. The package would eliminate $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting over the next two years and nearly $8 billion from various foreign aid programs, including global health initiatives. A proposed $400 million cut to HIV/AIDS prevention was removed during Senate deliberations. Supporters argue the cuts target wasteful spending and politically biased institutions, while opponents warn of potential harm to local stations, rural communities, and the balance of congressional spending authority. Critics emphasize that, though the cuts are a small part of the federal budget, they could significantly impact affected programs. This marks the first successful presidential rescission request in decades and may pave the way for further executive-driven spending reductions.