In a narrow vote just after midnight, the US House of Representatives passed a $9 billion rescissions package, reversing previously approved spending and sending it to President Donald Trump for his signature. The bill passed 216-213 at 12:04 am., following earlier Senate approval by a 51-48 margin.
The legislation is the first rescissions package to clear both chambers of Congress in nearly 50 years. It includes a $1 billion cut to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which supports PBS and NPR, and cancels various other unspent funds, including allocations for foreign aid.
Republican lawmakers framed the bill as part of the Department of Government Efficiency targeted cuts, necessary to rollback massive government waste. Democrats and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, criticized the cuts.
President Trump is expected to sign it quickly.
The national debt stands at over $37 trillion, making the $9 billion rescission a mere rounding error. To compare, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) budget was approximately $100.3 billion in Fiscal Year 2024.
