Senate Republicans are struggling to gain enough support for President Donald Trump’s $9.4 billion spending cuts request, with key members demanding more information about the specific programs targeted for reduction.
According to Politico, the situation has become urgent as Congress faces a Friday deadline to approve the request. If they fail to act by then, the president will have to spend the money as originally planned by Congress.
Appropriations Chair Susan Collins, after meeting with several GOP senators in her committee office on Monday, expressed serious concerns about the lack of information. “We still are lacking the level of detail that is needed to make the right decisions,” Collins said, highlighting concerns about transparency that have plagued other Trump initiatives, including his relationship with Elon Musk’s spending influence, noting that it was unusual for senators to face such difficulties in obtaining detailed information.
White House budget director to address Republican concerns in Tuesday meeting
Senate Republicans will meet with White House Budget Director Russ Vought in a closed-door lunch on Tuesday. They hope to get clear answers about which specific accounts would be affected if Congress approves the administration’s request.
The spending cuts, known as “rescissions,” target areas including public broadcasting and foreign aid. Several Republican senators have raised questions about cuts to global health programs, including PEPFAR, the global AIDS program, and international food aid.
Majority Leader John Thune needs 51 votes to begin debate on the package, but support remains uncertain. Even if he secures enough votes to start the process, there’s no guarantee the package will pass later in the week.
Some Republicans, like Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt, support the administration’s efforts, even as other Republicans have grown increasingly skeptical of Trump’s spending policies and are working to help their colleagues get answers. Others, including Senators Jerry Moran of Kansas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, have expressed concerns about the lack of specific information from the White House.
If the Senate makes any changes to the package, it would need to return to the House for another vote. This additional step could further complicate efforts to meet the Friday deadline, when the administration would lose its ability to withhold the disputed funds.
