Summary
The Senate approved a plan from the Trump administration that aims to cut $9 billion from certain programs. This includes reducing funds for public broadcasting, like NPR and PBS, and foreign aid programs. The decision now moves to the House for final approval.
Key Facts
- The Senate voted to cut $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, affecting NPR and PBS funding.
- An additional $7.9 billion is cut from foreign aid and other programs.
- The Senate decision passed with a 51-48 vote; most Democrats opposed it, while most Republicans supported it.
- Two Republican senators, Susan Collins from Maine and Lisa Murkowski from Alaska, voted against the bill.
- The House had already approved a previous version of this funding cut plan.
- Senator Tina Smith from Minnesota missed the vote because she was in the hospital.
- Senator Lisa Murkowski proposed an amendment to protect public broadcasting, citing its role in emergency alerts, but it was not passed.
- Public broadcasting organizations expressed concern that these cuts could harm community services and public safety alerts.
