House Set to Vote on $9.4B Rescission Package Targeting Foreign Aid, NPR, and PBS

Tone & Political Bias: Moderately Right-Leaning

Why: Emphasis on cutting what GOP leaders label as “wasteful spending,” with ideological language targeting NPR and PBS as “radical” and “woke.”

The Vote

The House of Representatives is expected to vote Thursday on a rescission package backed by the White House and Republican leadership. The proposal aims to cancel $9.4 billion in previously approved government funding. The primary targets are international aid programs and public broadcasting entities, NPR and PBS.

What’s in the Package

The proposed cuts are part of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative and would make permanent some temporary spending reductions. Specific proposed cuts include:

$8.3 billion from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which funds global health, refugee relief, and climate efforts.
$1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which funds NPR and PBS.
- Of this, PBS received $325 million this year.

The rescissions were officially transmitted to Congress by the White House on June 3, starting a 45-day window for congressional action.

GOP Leadership’s Rationale

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has positioned the move as a response to “wasteful spending.” He called the package a clear example of the DOGE initiative and said it would improve government accountability.

On NPR and PBS, Johnson said continuing federal support is outdated:

“We’re in a different era now. There is no reason for any media organization to be singled out to receive federal funds — especially those who appear to have so little regard for the truth.”

The White House echoed similar sentiments, accusing public broadcasters of promoting “radical, woke propaganda disguised as ‘news.’”

Foreign Aid Cuts Under Scrutiny

A large portion of the package affects USAID. Johnson described cuts in this area as targeting “USAID abuses,” saying the agency “opposed the loudest” to the administration’s review process.

Included in the reductions is funding for PEPFAR — the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief — launched under President George W. Bush. This program has been credited with saving millions of lives globally, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

Internal GOP Pushback

While GOP leadership is unified in support, some Republicans have expressed reservations.

Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) initially opposed cuts to PEPFAR but has since indicated he is reconsidering his position. After a GOP conference meeting on Tuesday, he told reporters he felt “better” about the package but did not confirm how he would vote.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) has also raised concerns:
“PEPFAR cuts make no sense to me whatsoever, given the extraordinary record... I have a lot of concerns.”

Despite internal objections, GOP leaders are moving forward confidently.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) called the vote “an important first step,” saying,
“Our members are ready to go lock in some of those DOGE cuts.”

How the Rescission Process Works

Under the rescissions process, Congress can cancel funds that were previously approved but not yet spent. The president may propose rescissions, but Congress must approve them within 45 days.

Once submitted, the rescission request goes through the relevant committees and then to a vote in the full House and Senate.

Notably, in the Senate, rescission bills do not require a 60-vote supermajority to pass — only a simple majority.

What’s Next

If approved by the House on Thursday, the package will proceed to the Senate, where it may face greater scrutiny. The outcome will determine whether the proposed funding cuts, especially those affecting public broadcasting and global health, become permanent.