The U.S. Senate has approved a request from the White House to cancel $9.4 billion in federal spending, targeting foreign aid as well as funding for NPR and PBS.
In a closely contested vote late Wednesday, July 16, the Senate passed the bill 51–48, sending it to the House of Representatives, which is expected to give final approval by July 18, according to CNN.
If passed, the bill will proceed to President Donald Trump for his signature.
Back in early June, House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that the administration had submitted the proposal to Congress, labeling the allocated funds as “wasteful,” a position supported by the Department of Government Efficiency.
In a related development, Trump signed an executive order in May to halt government funding for NPR and PBS, citing what he described as “biased reporting.”
This action prompted legal pushback. On May 27, NPR and several Colorado radio stations filed a lawsuit against the administration, alleging that the move was an attempt to suppress press freedom.
