Trump to Ask Congress to Codify DOGE Cuts, Hitting PBS and NPR

(Bloomberg) -- The White House will ask Congress next week to enact $9 billion of spending cuts into law — a small portion of the $175 billion in savings that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency claims to have found.

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The cuts — first floated in April but waylaid amid efforts in the House to pass President Donald Trump’s tax bill — would target funding for the Public Broadcasting Service, National Public Radio and foreign aid in the current fiscal year, according to an Office of Management and Budget spokeswoman.

The request, known as a rescission, is a little-used tactic for reducing spending already approved by Congress.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said Wednesday the House would act quickly on the package. “The House is eager and ready to act on DOGE’s findings so we can deliver even more cuts to big government that President Trump wants and the American people demand.”

The renewed interest in the rescissions comes as Musk has criticized the “One Big Beautiful Bill” that Trump favored — and which passed the House last week — because it would increase federal deficits.

Under the 1974 Impoundment Control Act, if Congress rejects the rescission package or does nothing, the administration must release the money back to the intended recipients — effectively undoing the DOGE cuts.

The package can pass the Senate with just 50 votes rather than the usual 60 votes. Congress can also amend the package, removing cuts it doesn’t favor.

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