Senate Approves $9B Cuts to Foreign Aid, Public Broadcasting

The U.S. Senate approved President Donald Trump's request to rescind about $9 billion in federal funding, including $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and $7.9 billion from foreign aid programs. The measure, passed by a 51-48 vote, reflects the Trump administration's ongoing effort to expand executive control over federal spending, a power traditionally held by Congress. The cuts to public broadcasting have sparked bipartisan concern, as many local and rural stations rely heavily on this funding, which supports emergency alerts, educational programming, and cultural content. Despite attempts to amend the bill to protect public media, these efforts failed, with Republican senators largely supporting the rescissions, citing concerns over political bias and government spending. The foreign aid reductions target programs including those supporting clean energy projects and energy access in emerging markets, potentially undermining U.S. influence abroad and investment opportunities. The bill now awaits final approval by the House before going to President Trump for his signature.