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"Trump Budget Chief Vought Pushes for Sweeping Cuts to Public Broadcasting and Foreign Aid"
Russell Vought, who currently directs the Office of Management and Budget for President Trump, has been at the center of considerable news in the past few days due to his major role in the administration’s efforts to cut federal spending on public broadcasting and foreign aid. As reported by Politico and other sources, this week the Senate narrowly approved Trump’s proposal, authored by Vought, to rescind nine billion dollars previously appropriated by Congress. The cuts target the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which supports PBS and NPR, slashing its budget by over one billion dollars, and also include significant reductions to international assistance such as global health and food aid programs.
Vought’s approach to these cuts has generated strong controversy in Congress. Lawmakers from both parties, including Senate Republicans Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, have expressed frustration over what they describe as a lack of transparency. During closed door meetings, Vought reportedly gave only general summaries—described as “matrices” of affected accounts—without committing to specifics on which programs would be axed or by how much. Democrats and even some Republicans argue that passing broad rescission bills without details sets a worrisome precedent for greater executive control over Congressional spending in the future. According to Common Dreams, Senator Patty Murray criticized Vought’s refusal to clarify which programs faced cuts, accusing the administration of stonewalling lawmakers and undermining Congressional authority.
In addition to the public media cuts, Vought has overseen a freeze on billions in federal education funds, as noted by Education Week and Politico. The Office of Management and Budget confirmed that currently appropriated dollars for schools are under review as part of the Trump administration’s broader scrutiny of programs tied to immigration, LGBTQ-plus issues, and afterschool enrichment. Although Republicans on the Senate Appropriations Committee wrote to Vought urging him to follow the law and promptly release the education funds, he has suggested these too could be included in future rescission packages.
Some of the administration’s justifications for international aid cuts involve claims of waste, fraud, and program misuse. Vought told senators that millions had been spent on controversial projects, though news outlets such as NPR and Fortune report he has not provided documentation. His office has not responded to requests for more detailed information, heightening concerns among lawmakers about both the process and possible consequences for vulnerable populations at home and abroad.
Vought indicated this week he is willing to assemble additional rescission proposals if Congress approves the current one. Several observers warn that if this strategy succeeds, it may embolden similar executive actions affecting a broader range of federal programs.
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Published on 5 months, 3 weeks ago