Billions in cuts mark latest win for President Trump as GOP solidifies control over Congress

Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Senate voted early Thursday to approve President Donald Trump’s proposal to cut billions of dollars from funding for foreign aid and public broadcasting, delivering another legislative victory for the Republican president.

The move comes as Trump continues to exert firm control over the GOP-led Congress, facing minimal resistance from party lawmakers. The cuts are part of a broader effort by the administration to reallocate federal spending toward domestic priorities, including national defense, border security, and infrastructure.

The approved package includes significant reductions in foreign assistance programs managed by the State Department and USAID, as well as steep funding cuts to public broadcasting networks such as PBS and NPR.

In a statement, the White House praised the vote as a “commonsense rebalancing of taxpayer priorities,” saying the president remains committed to “ending wasteful spending abroad and focusing resources on the American people.”

Critics argue the cuts will weaken U.S. diplomatic influence and harm public media institutions that provide critical education and cultural programming. Democratic leaders warned the reductions could strain relations with global partners and undermine America’s soft power.

Despite the controversy, the bill passed largely along party lines, underscoring the Republican Party’s continued alignment with Trump’s fiscal agenda.