The U.S. Senate has approved a White House proposal to cut $9.4 billion in federal spending, with reductions targeting foreign aid and funding for public broadcasters NPR and PBS.
In a narrow 51–48 vote late Wednesday, July 16, the Senate passed the bill, which now moves to the House of Representatives. According to CNN, the House is expected to give final approval by July 18.
If passed, the bill will be sent to President Donald Trump for his signature.
The proposed cuts stem from a request submitted by the White House in early June. House Speaker Mike Johnson announced the move at the time, calling the affected funds “wasteful spending.” The Department of Government Efficiency echoed that sentiment in supporting the proposal.
In a related move, President Trump signed an executive order in May halting federal funding for NPR and PBS, accusing both outlets of biased reporting. That action sparked legal action: on May 27, NPR and several Colorado-based public radio stations filed a lawsuit against the administration, claiming the funding cut was an attempt to suppress press freedom.
The bill’s passage marks a major development in the administration’s push to reshape federal budget priorities ahead of the 2026 fiscal year.