Senate GOP Revises Trump $9.4B Spending Cuts Removing PEPFAR

Senate Republicans have revised President Donald Trump's request to cancel $9.4 billion in previously approved federal spending, notably removing proposed cuts to PEPFAR, a global HIV/AIDS program credited with saving millions of lives. The change preserves about $400 million for PEPFAR, reducing the total savings to approximately $9 billion, and aims to build broader support ahead of key procedural votes before a Friday deadline. The package targets funding for foreign aid programs and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, with some senators expressing concern that cuts to public media could severely impact around 1,500 local radio and television stations reliant on federal aid. Senate Majority Leader John Thune emphasized the need to control federal spending amid a $36 trillion debt, while the White House engaged with GOP senators through OMB Director Russ Vought to address concerns and negotiate potential amendments. Despite these efforts, Democrats uniformly oppose the package, viewing it as fiscally misleading and politically divisive, and warn it undermines bipartisan spending cooperation. Senators like Susan Collins acknowledge progress but seek more clarity from the administration regarding specific cuts, reflecting ongoing debate within the GOP about the severity and targets of the rescissions.