President Donald Trump gives a thumbs up to reporters as he walks on the South Lawn upon arriving at the White House on July 13, 2025, in Washington. (AP/Jose Luis Magana)
The bill that advanced out of committee Tuesday includes just shy of $8 billion in cuts from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and over $1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the government-backed funding arm for NPR and PBS.
Republicans’ successful test vote comes after huddling with Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought, who worked to shore up support and apply pressure from the White House to get the ball rolling on the bill.
"We're fine with adjustments," Vought said. "This is still a great package, $9 billion, [it's] substantially the same package, and the Senate has to work its will."
'GUT CHECK TIME': DISSENT AMONG SENATE GOP RANKS THREATENS TO REDUCE TRUMP'S SPENDING CUT DEMAND
Senator Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, speaks to members of the media following the Senate Republican policy luncheon at the US Capitol in Washington on June 4, 2025. (Getty Images)
It now moves to yet another procedural vote, which, if successful, will open up 10 hours of total debate time on the bill and eventually set the stage for a vote-a-rama, where lawmakers on either side of the aisle can offer an unlimited number of amendments to the package.
But, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., made clear that he would prefer the Senate not make any changes to the bill.
However, that request already fell on deaf ears — as it did during the budget reconciliation process that unfolded in the upper chamber last month.
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Those demands already have fiscal hawks in the House grumbling, but like the budget reconciliation process before it, an amended rescissions package will likely glide through the House GOP and onto Trump’s desk.
Alex Miller is a writer for Fox News Digital covering the U.S. Senate.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trumps-9-billion-clawback-passes-first-senate-test-while-more-hurdles-await