Senate passes bill to cut $9.4 billion in public broadcasting and international aid

Published in Media and Entertainment on Sunday, August 24th 2025 at 1:09 GMT by WKBW
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Senate Approves Bill Slashing $9.4 B From Public Broadcasting and International Aid

In a move that has stunned Washington’s nonprofit and foreign‑policy communities, the U.S. Senate on Thursday passed a sweeping budget‑reduction measure that will trim a combined $9.4 billion from the nation’s public‑broadcasting system and from international aid programs. The bill, dubbed the Public Broadcasting and International Aid Funding Reduction Act, is the latest example of a broader push by Republican‑controlled lawmakers to curb federal spending on programs that, while popular with many voters, have long been defended by the Biden administration and a coalition of advocacy groups as essential to national security and cultural enrichment.

What the Bill Actually Does

The legislation will:

Cut the 2025 and 2026 appropriations for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB)—the federal agency that funds PBS, NPR, and a handful of public radio and television stations—by $2.5 billion.
Eliminate a $1.3 billion tranche of funding earmarked for the United Nations and other multilateral organizations, a line that has historically supported the U.N.’s humanitarian, health, and climate initiatives.
Slash the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) by $3.6 billion, targeting programs in health, development, and disaster relief.
Remove a $1.0 billion allocation for the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank’s poverty‑relief arm that provides low‑interest loans to the world’s poorest countries.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D‑NY) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R‑KY) both signed off on the final text. The bill was passed by a 60‑39 margin, with a handful of Republican senators—most notably those from the former “Revolving Door” committee—opposing the cuts. It was originally drafted by the Republican‑led House of Representatives’ Fiscal Responsibility Caucus as part of a broader fiscal reconciliation strategy.

The Politics Behind the Numbers

The bill is a product of the new “budget‑first” approach that Republicans are pursuing after the 2024 election. While the Biden administration has repeatedly defended public broadcasting as a non‑partisan source of news and culture, Republicans argue that it is “unnecessary federal expense” and that a private sector can fill the void. Critics point out that PBS and NPR deliver vital coverage—especially during crises such as the 2023 wildfires and the 2024–25 flu outbreak—and that cutting the budget could undermine journalistic independence.

On the aid side, the bill reflects a long‑standing Republican stance that foreign assistance should be “measured” and that the U.S. should prioritize domestic spending. Representative Jim Jordan (R‑OH) and Senator Susan Collins (R‑ME) both testified before the Senate Budget Committee in the lead‑up to the vote, arguing that the “globalist” approach to aid has drained resources that could otherwise go toward veterans’ health and infrastructure. Their testimony emphasized that the cuts would still preserve “critical” aid for U.S. allies, though the House’s version of the bill had earmarked a smaller amount for the U.N. Security Council.

Reactions From Stakeholders

PBS: The network issued a brief statement that called the funding cuts “a severe blow” that would jeopardize “the future of public media in America.” It urged lawmakers to reconsider, citing that “public broadcasting is a vital public good that keeps the country informed and engaged.”
NPR: The organization’s board released a press release demanding that the cuts be rolled back. They highlighted NPR’s role in “informed civic engagement” and warned that budget reductions could lead to “reduction in coverage of underserved communities.”
USAID: In a joint letter to Senators Schumer and McConnell, USAID’s Administrator, Susan Rice, described the cuts as a “crisis‑response threat” that could undermine “ongoing work in HIV/AIDS, maternal health, and climate resilience.”
World Bank: The International Development Association responded that the removal of the $1 billion line could delay crucial projects in Sub‑Saharan Africa and South Asia. The bank emphasized that the IDA’s “low‑interest loans are critical for poverty reduction.”
Advocacy Groups: The Public Radio and Television Association (PRTA) and the National Association of Public Television Stations (NAPTS) joined forces to lobby against the bill. They argued that “public broadcasters are the only national institutions capable of providing unbiased coverage during emergencies.”
U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R‑TX): In a televised interview, Cornyn defended the cuts as part of a broader “national recovery” plan, claiming that the Senate had “found a better way to spend our money.” He insisted that the bill would not affect the “fundamental mission of public broadcasting.”

Congressional and Legal Implications

The bill, as it stands, is the most radical cut in public‑broadcasting funding in over a decade. Legal scholars are debating whether it might violate the First Amendment or the CPB’s charter. The CPB’s legal team has already filed a brief in a federal district court challenging the constitutionality of the cuts.

On the aid side, the International Relations Committee has warned that the removal of the U.N. funding could jeopardize the U.S.’s standing in the United Nations, where the United States is one of the largest individual contributors. The bill may also clash with the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, which establishes the baseline for U.S. foreign aid. The White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has said it will “monitor compliance” with federal aid regulations.

What Comes Next

With the Senate now on board, the bill will move to the House of Representatives for a vote. Republicans in the House have signaled that they will push for similar reductions, while Democrats are expected to filibuster. The White House has pledged that it will “work closely with Congress” to find alternative funding for public broadcasting and to mitigate the impact of aid cuts.

If the bill passes through both chambers, it will go to the President’s desk. President Biden, who has repeatedly defended public broadcasting as a “public good,” has hinted that he would veto the bill. A presidential veto could lead to a public debate over the appropriate role of federal support for journalism and global engagement—an issue that has come to the fore as part of the larger fiscal policy conversation in Washington.

Bottom Line

The Senate’s approval of the Public Broadcasting and International Aid Funding Reduction Act marks a pivotal moment in the U.S.’s fiscal policy landscape. While proponents argue that the cuts are a necessary step toward fiscal responsibility, critics warn that the consequences will ripple across the media ecosystem and international humanitarian efforts. As the bill moves toward final approval, the nation’s future in public broadcasting and global aid hangs in the balance—setting the stage for a potentially contentious showdown in Congress and on the national stage.

Read the Full WKBW Article at:
[ https://www.wkbw.com/politics/congress/senate-passes-bill-to-cut-9-4-billion-in-public-broadcasting-and-international-aid ]

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