Congress Sends $9 Billion Spending Cuts to Trump for Signature

In a narrow 216-213 vote just after midnight, the House of Representatives passed a $9 billion spending cuts package sending it to President Donald Trump’s desk for final approval. The measure, known as a “rescissions package,” marks a significant win for Speaker Mike Johnson and House Republicans who have been pushing to rein in what they call reckless, “woke” spending.

Only two Republicans Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA) and Mike Turner (OH) crossed party lines to oppose the bill. Friday was the last day for Congress to act, or the funds would have been automatically re-obligated.

“This bill tonight is part of continuing that trend of getting spending under control,” House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) said. “Does it answer all the problems? No. But $9 billion is a good start.”

When signed by President Trump, the legislation will rescind:

• $8 billion from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), halting funds that Republicans argue prop up failed foreign policies.

• $1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a network that many conservatives say has grown increasingly biased and politically charged.

The cuts are effective for the remainder of fiscal year 2025 and represent the first successful use of a rescissions package in over two decades the last one passed in 1999. This process allows the president to directly influence congressional appropriations and lowers the Senate’s vote threshold to 51, sidestepping the typical 60-vote requirement.

The late-night debate wasn’t without theatrics. Democrats repeatedly invoked the Jeffrey Epstein case, demanding the release of Epstein-related files and attempting to force votes on the matter. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) accused Republicans of ignoring victims and even led a chant of “release the files” during the debate.

Republicans fired back, pointing out that Democrats had full control under Biden but did nothing to release those records. “Interesting how they talk about Jeffrey Epstein,” Scalise noted. “For four years, President Joe Biden had those files, and not a single Democrat tried to get those files released.”

Ultimately, GOP leaders advanced a separate, nonbinding measure on Epstein transparency while keeping focus on the spending cuts bill.

While $9 billion is a fraction of the federal budget, Republicans view this package as a test run for broader fiscal reforms. The original version of the bill sought $9.4 billion in cuts but was trimmed slightly in the Senate over concerns about HIV/AIDS prevention funding in Africa. Even so, conservatives hailed the passage as a long-overdue step toward financial discipline.

President Trump is expected to sign the package on Friday, reinforcing his administration’s promise to cut wasteful spending and put America first.

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