The US Senate has given its approval to a bill that would rescind approximately $9 billion in previously approved spending, as proposed by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The bill, which was passed with a narrow 51-48 vote, targets funding for foreign aid programs and public broadcasting. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds NPR and PBS, would see its funding slashed by about $1 billion.
The proposed cuts have sparked debate, with Democrats arguing that they would dismantle trusted sources of public information and do little to reduce the deficit. Senator Cory Booker (D-New Jersey) criticized the move, stating that it undermines the spirit and ideals of the US Constitution. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, however, defended the bill, saying that while foreign aid is necessary, there are “junk programs disconnected from the aid’s purpose” that need to be cut.
The bill’s passage in the Senate marks a significant test of Congress’s willingness to adopt savings proposed by DOGE, which was created after Musk’s departure from the administration. DOGE claims to have saved taxpayers $190 billion so far, although fact-checkers have questioned the accuracy of this figure. The bill now heads back to the House for final approval before it can be signed into law by President Trump.
