White House plans $9.3B funding cuts, targets PBS, USAID

The White House is preparing a rescission package requesting Congress to cut $9.3 billion in previously approved funding, targeting the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), public broadcasting entities like NPR and PBS, and other programs deemed misaligned with the Trump administration's priorities. Specific cuts include funding for LGBTQ programs, international aid projects, and public broadcasting, with examples cited such as a PBS program on transgender issues and NPR's CEO's past remarks about Trump. The formal request will be presented when Congress returns from its Easter recess on April 28, and simple majorities in both chambers will be required to approve the cuts. The administration has faced criticism for labeling certain expenditures as wasteful while Republican control in Congress may facilitate the approval process. However, the narrow margin in the House raises uncertainty about the package's fate. This move follows a broader trend of targeting agencies and programs that some Republicans view as too liberal.