PBS, NPR Could Lose $1.1 Billion in Funding

The House Thursday narrowly passed a 214-to-212 vote to rescind $9.4 billion previously allocated for foreign aid and public broadcasting, aligning with spending cuts proposed by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). 

The move followed a White House request for Congress to formalize the rollback, a shift from President Trump’s typical approach of bypassing Congress through executive orders to control federal spending.

The cuts targeted $8.3 billion in foreign aid and $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which supports NPR and PBS. Representative Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) defended the measure, arguing that “America’s resources should always serve America’s interests” and accusing the “radical left” of misusing these programs.

Four Republicans—Mark Amodei (Nevada), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pennsylvania), Nicole Malliotakis (New York), and Mike Turner (Ohio)—joined Democrats in opposing the bill. Speaker Mike Johnson secured passage by persuading several GOP lawmakers to switch their initial “no” votes. Representative Nick LaLota (New York) cited a deal with Johnson on SALT deductions—state and local tax write-offs—as a factor in his vote change, stating he secured “expectations” for his constituents.

The proposal’s future in the Senate remains uncertain. While Republicans can pass it with a simple majority, some senators have voiced concerns about defunding programs like public broadcasting and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, a global health initiative credited with saving over 25 million lives.