The Senate narrowly approved President Donald Trump’s $9 billion rescissions package early Thursday morning.

The Senate passed the Rescissions Act of 2025 by a 51-48 margin after an overnight voting session that stretched over 12 hours. The package now returns to the House, where Republicans must approve the Senate’s modified version before the Friday midnight deadline mandated by the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act.

The rescissions package targets approximately $8 billion in foreign aid programs administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds NPR and PBS. The Senate made several key modifications to the original House version:

• PEPFAR Protection: Removed $400 million in cuts to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the Bush-era program that has saved an estimated 25 million lives
• Health Programs: Protected funding for programs addressing tuberculosis, malaria, maternal and child health, and nutrition
• Tribal Broadcasting: Secured continued funding for tribal radio stations, particularly in rural areas
• Jordan and Egypt: Maintained funding for these strategic allies

Only two Republican senators broke ranks to oppose the measure: Susan Collins of Maine, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. Democratic Senator Tina Smith of Minnesota was unable to vote due to hospitalization. Former Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who had voted against procedural motions earlier this week, ultimately supported the final package.

Several GOP senators expressed concerns about the lack of specificity in the White House’s rescission request.

Kentucky Republican Mitch McConnell told reporters, ““I want to make it clear: I don’t have any problem with reducing spending. We’re talking about not knowing,” McConnell told reporters. “They would like a blank check, is what they would like. And I don’t think that’s appropriate. I think they ought to make the case.”

While Alaskan Republican Lisa Murkowski, who was a deciding vote in the passage of Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill wrote on X, ““Some colleagues claim they are targeting ‘radical leftist organizations’ with these cuts, but in Alaska, these are simply organizations dedicated to their communities. Their response to today’s earthquake is a perfect example of the incredible public service these stations provide. They deliver local news, weather updates, and, yes, emergency alerts that save human lives.”

President Trump intensified pressure on Republican senators throughout the process, threatening to withhold endorsements from those who opposed the package. In a social media post, Trump declared: “Any Republican that votes to allow this monstrosity (PBS and NPR) to continue broadcasting will not have my support or Endorsement.” 

Trump started his second term with a 49-percent approval rating. As of this week, 55-percent of those polled disapprove of the job he’s doing. 

The cuts would eliminate all federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting over the next two years, affecting NPR, PBS, and local public television and radio stations nationwide. Public broadcasting advocates warn that rural and tribal stations would be particularly vulnerable to closure without federal support.

The foreign aid reductions target programs spanning global health, international disaster assistance, democracy promotion, and development aid. While the Senate protected certain high-profile programs like PEPFAR, advocates warn that the cuts could undermine U.S. global health leadership and humanitarian assistance capabilities.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has indicated that the chamber will vote on the Senate’s modified package on Thursday, with expectations for passage despite the changes. The House previously approved the original rescissions package 214-212 in June, with four Republicans joining all Democrats in opposition.

The legislation must be signed into law by Friday midnight to take effect. If Congress fails to act by the deadline, the targeted funds will be restored and must be spent as originally appropriated.

Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought has indicated that this rescissions package represents just the beginning of the administration’s spending reduction efforts. The success of this initial package will likely determine whether the White House submits additional rescission requests in the coming months.

The current rescissions package represents less than 0.1% of the federal budget.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has warned that Democrats will not cooperate on government funding bills if Republicans continue to use the rescissions process to unilaterally cut previously agreed-upon spending.