White House Plans $9.4 Billion Cuts to Public Media, Foreign Aid

The White House is set to send a $9.4 billion rescissions package to Congress aimed at codifying spending cuts proposed by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), targeting public broadcasting and foreign aid. The package includes $1.1 billion in cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds NPR and PBS, and $8.3 billion in reductions to the U.S. Agency for International Development, reflecting the administration's criticism of perceived partisan bias and inefficiencies. While some conservative lawmakers, including Sen. Mike Lee and House Speaker Mike Johnson, have pushed for swift congressional approval, the package represents only a portion of the broader $175 billion savings identified by DOGE. Musk has criticized recent GOP spending legislation, particularly the "One Big Beautiful Bill," for increasing the deficit and undermining DOGE's mission. Under the 1974 Impoundment Control Act, Congress must approve the rescissions for the cuts to take effect; otherwise, funds will be released as originally allocated. The administration's efforts come amid ongoing debates about fiscal responsibility, government size, and the role of public media funding.