President Trump submitted a rescissions proposal to Congress, requesting $9.4 billion in cuts to the FY 2025 budget, which runs through Sept. 30, 2025.
- In Context: This rescissions proposal is separate from the reconciliation bill and the FY 2026 budget proposals covered later in this edition.
Go Deeper: The 22 proposed rescissions affect programs of the Department of State, as well as the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the US Agency for International Development, the US Institute of Peace, and other international assistance programs
Why It Matters: The proposal triggers a 45-day countdown for Congress to approve or reject the rescissions. With only a simple majority needed in both chambers, Republicans could act without Democratic support—setting the stage for deeper cuts ahead.
What They’re Saying: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Appropriations Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) responded:
“The power of the purse is one of Congress’s most fundamental Constitutional responsibilities. Democrats will not allow Republicans to play games with the budget.”
Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) strongly opposed the proposed rescission to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program saying:
“I will not support a cut in PEPFAR, which is a program that has saved literally millions of lives and has been extremely effective and well run.”Why it matters: Chair Collins will guide the recission package through her committee. She also noted that “there hasn’t been a successful rescission package in many, many years.”
