Senators take aim at Trump’s rescissionsSome GOP lawmakers want to minimize the bill’s cuts to AIDS prevention efforts and local radio.Politico, Jul 9, 2025
Senate GOP leaders are scrambling to shore up the votes for the White House’s $9.4 billion request to claw back funding for foreign aid and public broadcasting.
It’s dangerously close to the July 18 deadline that will render Trump’s rescissions package expired for good if Congress doesn’t act. But Senate Republicans are seeking tweaks to minimize the bill’s cuts to AIDS prevention efforts around the world and valued local broadcasters back home.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune can lose no more than three GOP senators if he wants to get the White House request across the finish line. According to him, it’s still TBD what the bill will look like when and if it gets through the chamber.
“We’ll see where it goes,” Thune told reporters Tuesday, adding that he doesn’t have a hard vote count yet. Thune is assuming Republicans will at least be able to gather the necessary 51 votes to begin debate on the package while leaders continue to whip support.
Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) is among the Republicans seeking to amend the package, but she refused to elaborate on how much of the $9.4 billion she is aiming to protect: “I have already made clear I don’t support the cuts to PEPFAR and child and maternal health,” Collins said Tuesday night.
Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) on Tuesday both said they want amendments to protect public radio stations for Native American reservations and rural Alaskans, respectively.
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https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/07/09/congress/senate-thune-collins-trump-rescissions-foreign-aid-radio-parliamentarian-00443402
