Republicans claw back billions in funding

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Cuts to federal funding are moving forward in Congress.

Republican lawmakers are working to claw back $9 billion from foreign aid and public broadcasting.

House lawmakers are currently considering whether to move the bill forward before the Friday deadline.

The package of cuts, requested by the president, is a key part of his agenda.

Republicans say it targets wasteful spending.

“Republicans voted to save the American taxpayers over nine billion dollars,” said Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.)

Two Republican senators, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, voted against the bill along with all Democrats.

“While Americans were asleep, Senate Republicans gutted critical funding for local TV and radio, for foreign aid that keeps America safe, all to keep paying for their billionaire tax cuts,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).

The package of cuts, representing a tiny fraction of the federal budget, is a priority for the president.

“This will help restore fiscal sanity in our country,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Russ Vought with the Office of Management and Budget said the White House is okay with the one change Republicans made to the bill, to exempt cuts to PEPFAR, a global anti-aids initiative.

“The president has always been supportive of lifesaving treatment,” said Vought.

Democrats criticized the cuts to public media and said the foreign aid cuts will hurt America’s standing on the world stage.

“This is a dark day for America,” said Schumer.

The bill must be signed by midnight on Friday for the cuts to take effect.