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FIRST ON FOX: A coalition of conservative House Republicans is issuing a strong warning to the Senate regarding President Donald Trump’s rescissions package. They insist that the Senate should preserve the integrity of this bill as the deadline for legislative action approaches.
Republican lawmakers have until Friday to address the bill, which mirrors the White House’s request to retract approximately $9.4 billion in previously allocated funds.
Despite passing through the House last month, Senate Republicans have indicated potential modifications to the legislation.
In a poignant letter, they stated, “To honor President Trump’s mandate from voters, the Senate must pass the entire $9.4 billion in spending cuts included in this rescission bill. Altering any part of this legislation would undermine his leadership and the fiscal discipline our budget critically requires.”
This letter is spearheaded by Rep. Andy Biggs from Arizona, a former chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, and has garnered support from 14 additional Republican representatives.
The spending cuts proposed in the bill entail significant reductions, including $1 billion in funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, an organization instrumental in providing federal support to both NPR and PBS. The rest of the cuts target the U.S. Agency for International Development, commonly known as USAID.
These reductions are part of a broader strategy aimed at eliminating government waste, identified by the Department of Government Efficiency, previously under the oversight of Elon Musk.
Trump allies perceive this initiative as a crucial test of the fiscal appetites of the House’s thin GOP majorities.
The bill experienced razor-thin passage through the House, securing a vote of 214 to 212, with four Republican representatives opposing it due to concerns over effects on local public news stations and funding for vital HIV/AIDS initiatives in Africa, known as PEPFAR.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins from Maine expressed her belief last week that the bill requires substantial revisions.
“For instance, I intend to eliminate the rescission of funds for PEPFAR, which has achieved extraordinary success, impacting approximately 26 million lives throughout its duration,” Collins asserted. “I find it difficult to comprehend why we would terminate this program or the maternal and child health program, which provides essential vitamins to malnourished pregnant women to ensure healthy deliveries.”
Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota also mentioned he is considering changes to the bill, particularly regarding rural radio stations that play a critical role in emergency services.
Biggs’ letter cautioned, “This rescission package is just the starting point. The Left may protest, but this package merely nibbles at the edges of a considerably bloated federal spending landscape. If Congress is unable to support even modest cuts, the fiscal future looks dire, not speculative.”
“President Trump has been unequivocal in his stance: Programs and spending that are wasteful, unnecessary, or ideologically driven must be eliminated. The House took action based on this directive, and now it’s the Senate’s turn to follow suit. Both the House and, more crucially, the American public will be watching closely,” the Republicans emphasized.
They described this moment as a defining moment for the Senate, asking, “Will they resist pressures to maintain the status quo and reaffirm their commitment to leadership and fiscal responsibility? The outcome will influence not only President Trump’s tenure but also the broader trajectory of our nation. It is imperative to respect the President’s vision and uphold the cuts approved by the House.”
The rescissions process grants the president the authority to request that Congress blocks certain discretionary funds that it has appropriated during each fiscal year.
For a rescissions package to be effective, it must pass both the House and the Senate within a 45-day window since its introduction, or the blocked funds will be released.
This process also allows the ruling party to expedite passage by lowering the Senate’s approval threshold from 60 votes to a simple majority of 51.
Currently, both House and Senate Republicans are navigating exceptionally narrow majorities, each holding a mere three-vote margin with full attendance required. This reality suggests that any vote related to the rescission package is likely to be extremely close.
Fox News Digital reached out to Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s office for commentary but did not receive an immediate response.
Fox News’ Kelly Phares contributed to this report.
