In a bold move that could reshape federal spending, U.S. Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought is advocating for a significant $9.4 billion rescissions package aimed at reducing funds to key public entities.
According to Breitbart, this proposal, which targets cuts to PBS, NPR, and USAID under the DOGE initiative, narrowly passed the House in June and now faces a pivotal second vote in Congress next week.
Vought addressed reporters outside the West Wing on Friday morning, outlining the administration's determination to push through these reductions. He emphasized the importance of this package as a test of Congressional resolve to enact the DOGE cuts. The $9.4 billion figure was deliberately chosen to gauge the level of support within a closely divided legislature.
In June, the rescissions package squeaked through the House with a tight vote of 214-212, highlighting the contentious nature of the proposed cuts. The upcoming vote next week will be critical in determining whether these reductions become permanent. Vought expressed optimism about the outcome, stating, "We had a great vote in the House. We have a second vote next week. I am confident that they will pass the bill."
He also noted his plans to visit Capitol Hill on Tuesday to field any remaining questions from lawmakers. "I'll be up there on Tuesday to answer any additional questions," Vought added, signaling his readiness to engage directly with Congress. The narrow margin in the Senate, combined with the close House vote, underscores the challenges ahead for this package.
Vought elaborated on the strategic reasoning behind the package's value, saying, "Well, look, we have a great opportunity on the Hill next week with regard to this $9.4 billion package, it's only $9.4 billion." He further explained, "Why is it only $9.4 billion? It's that because we know how close of a vote it was in the House, and we know we have a tight margin in the Senate, but that margin has to produce a victory." The administration views this as a critical moment to demonstrate legislative commitment to fiscal adjustments.
On the eve of Vought's statements, President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to voice his support for the initiative. Vought referenced the President's post, saying, "The President put out a great Truth Social last night, the extent to which we have been talking in this town as conservatives, as Republicans, about defunding corporations for public broadcasting for a very long time." He continued, "We are now on the verge of being able to do that, and it's important that we finally take that opportunity and not fall back on kind of the tired old excuses that have defended that program for so long."
The debate over funding for public broadcasting entities like PBS and NPR has long been a point of contention among conservatives and Republicans. This package represents a potential turning point in achieving a goal that has been discussed for decades. If successful, it could set a precedent for future reductions in federal spending on similar programs.
Vought also touched on the legal basis for the rescissions, referencing discussions during his confirmation process. He noted, "You know, when I went through confirmation, people said, 'Well, Russ, you have an impound and control act.' They knew that we were skeptics of it."
He added, "We're not huge fans of it, but they said there's a process for it, for using it. These were Democrats, these were Republicans that were on the Appropriations Committee. They said, 'Why wouldn't you use the rescissions package approach?'"
Continuing his remarks, Vought addressed criticism from some lawmakers, saying, "Well, we're doing that, we're sending bills up on that." He further stated, "And now we hear an argument that if you use tools that are outlined in the ICA, that somehow you're renegotiating the appropriations process or any agreement." He concluded, "That's the kind of thinking, the arguments that have caused us to never make any progress in this town."
The administration has additional rescission packages ready to propose if the upcoming vote yields a favorable result. Vought described this as a significant shift, saying, "A huge pivot point in how this town does business, and will be an exciting milestone to be able to make actual permanent reductions to some of these savings that we've identified as an administration." Such a development could herald a broader reevaluation of federal budget priorities in the coming months.
The outcome of next week's vote could influence how future budget negotiations are conducted in Washington. The use of tools under the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, as acknowledged by both Democratic and Republican senators during Vought's confirmation, adds a layer of complexity to the debate. Critics argue that employing these mechanisms might be seen as revisiting already settled appropriations agreements.
On the same day as Vought's press briefing, President Trump was en route to Kerrville, Texas. His visit was to meet with first responders, families impacted by a recent flood, and local officials. While unrelated to the rescissions package, this trip highlights the administration's broader focus on domestic issues during this critical legislative period.