Live updates: Senate passes cuts to foreign aid and public media, returns bill to House
The Senate overnight approved the White House’s $9 billion package of spending cuts to foreign aid programs and public broadcasting.
The 51-48 vote on what’s known as a rescissions package is a victory for Trump, who has vowed to shrink the size of the federal government. It now returns to the House for a final vote, since the Senate stripped a public health cut from the bill to ensure its passage.
The House, meanwhile, has a jam-packed day ahead with the rescissions package, but also three crypto bills that caused hours of turmoil on Wednesday, and a defense appropriations bill. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) will have his hands full trying to get through his agenda.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will brief reporters at 1 p.m., and President Trump is expected to sign executive orders Thursday afternoon. Questions surrounding files related to the late Jeffrey Epstein are expected, a topic the president has been unable to shake despite increasing insistence that the conversation be dropped.
What to know:
- Epstein files uproar puts spotlight on Dan Bongino
- The Memo: Trump struggles to extract himself from Epstein mire
- Democrats seek to close social media gap with GOP, Trump
Follow along all day for updates.