Washington insiders have been throwing money around like there’s no tomorrow for years. Programs like $2 million to study if people will eat bugs and billions sent to countries that don’t even like America get funded while everyday Americans wonder where their tax dollars go. It seems like no matter who’s in charge, the swamp just keeps growing deeper and wider.
That’s why it was so refreshing when someone finally decided to drain some of that swamp water. While Democrats and the media focus on distractions, something important just happened that shows President Trump is serious about his promises to cut government waste.
Congress just sent a $9 billion spending cuts package to President Trump’s desk after a late-night vote in the House of Representatives. The bill passed by a narrow margin of 216-213, with only two Republicans voting against it. This “rescissions package” will block $8 billion in funding to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and $1 billion to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
From ‘Fox News’:
Congress is officially sending a package detailing $9 billion in spending cuts to President Donald Trump’s desk, minutes after midnight on Friday…
“This bill tonight is part of continuing that trend of getting spending under control. Does it answer all the problems? No. $9 billion, I would say is a good start,” House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., said during debate on the bill.
The victory marks the first time in over two decades that Congress has successfully used this budget-cutting tool. The last time a rescissions package was signed into law was way back in 1999. This shows how hard it normally is to cut even a penny from the federal budget once it’s been approved.
A Historic Victory for Fiscal Responsibility
House Speaker Mike Johnson celebrated the win and made it clear this is just the beginning of efforts to cut wasteful spending. “This isn’t the end, it’s the beginning,” Johnson said after the bill passed.
The cuts target what many conservatives see as wasteful spending on foreign aid and public broadcasting. By stopping $8 billion from going to USAID, Republicans are making sure American tax dollars stay at home rather than funding questionable projects overseas, including “gender equity” programs in foreign countries and climate initiatives that do little for Americans.
The $1 billion cut to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting represents another win for conservatives who have long questioned why taxpayers should fund media organizations that many feel have a liberal bias.
Republicans Stand United Behind Trump’s Agenda
The vote showed strong Republican unity, with only Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Mike Turner of Ohio breaking ranks. This unity helped push the bill through despite fierce Democrat opposition.
The Senate had already approved the measure with a simple majority of 51 votes instead of the usual 60 votes needed for most legislation. This procedural advantage helped Republicans bypass Democrat obstruction tactics.
“Republicans have been taking the incoming criticism because they voted to stop the Democrats’ politicization of this, and they’re trying to stick to their job and move their procedural rules to the floor so we can do our work and get the rescissions done for the American people,” Speaker Johnson told reporters.
More Cuts Coming Soon
While $9 billion might seem like a drop in the bucket compared to the total federal budget, it represents an important first step in the larger effort to trim government that began with Trump’s first term. The fact that President Trump and congressional Republicans were able to use this rarely successful process shows their commitment to fiscal responsibility.
Democrats tried multiple times to derail the bill with unrelated amendments, showing they remain committed to the big-spending policies that have driven up our national debt.
As Speaker Johnson promised, this is just the beginning of efforts to trim the fat from bloated government programs. With President Trump’s signature on this bill, Americans can expect more victories in the battle against wasteful spending. For taxpayers tired of seeing their hard-earned dollars wasted, this win offers hope that Washington might finally be changing its spendthrift ways.
Key Takeaways
- Congress passed a historic $9 billion spending cuts package targeting foreign aid and public broadcasting
- House Speaker Mike Johnson secured the first successful rescissions package since 1999
- Republicans stood united behind Trump’s fiscal agenda with only two GOP representatives opposing
- This victory signals the beginning of more cuts to wasteful government spending
