Senate passes $9 billion in spending cuts

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – The Senate passed $9 billion in cuts to federal spending, including spending on foreign aid and to NPR and PBS.

This goes back to the opening weeks of the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s promise to cut federal spending.

The bill would take back $1.9 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which helps support NPR and PBS and cuts $8 billion in foreign aid, though Republicans say they’re not sure exactly what that covers.

“We have no earthly idea what specific cuts will occur. But I’m willing to give OMB and the President the benefit of the doubt,” said Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.).

Democrats say the foreign aid cuts have already shown life-or-death consequences around the world.

In Liberia, local nurses say U.S. aid cuts have cut vital healthcare and the shelves carrying medicine at local clinics are empty.

Senate Democrats say China has moved in to fill the gap and Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski says public broadcasting funding covers emergency alerts.

Murkowski and Maine Senator Susan Collins voted against the federal spending cuts along with all Democrats, but Republicans had enough to get it across the finish line.

Congress has a Friday deadline to pass this bill and get it to the president’s desk.

If not, the Office of Management and Budget will be forced to release the funding.