Washington: The US House of Representatives voted 214-212 to pass legislation marking the first "rescissions" bill of President Donald J. Trump's Administration, aiming to cancel USD 9.4 billion in federal funding designated for foreign assistance. President Trump, applauding the Republican-led House's decision, stated that the bill will "OFFICIALLY 'claw back'" funds allocated for what he termed as wasteful foreign aid and other initiatives.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the "rescissions" package seeks to retract USD 8.3 billion from foreign aid budgets and USD 1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds NPR and PBS. President Trump criticized NPR and PBS on his Social Truth account, labeling them as biased and a "Radical Left Disaster."
The legislation is part of a broader strategy by the White House to enforce cuts suggested by the Department of Government Efficiency, headed by tech billionaire Elon Musk. President Trump emphasized that the rescissions, in conjunction with tariffs, mass deportations, and a robust economy, are critical measures to reduce the deficit and balance the budget. He urged every Republican in Congress to support the bill, describing it as a "NO BRAINER."