The United States Senate has approved a controversial $9 billion package of federal spending cuts initially proposed by President Donald Trump and developed by the now-defunct Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), formerly headed by tech mogul Elon Musk.
In a narrow 51–48 vote early Thursday morning, the Republican-led Senate passed the measure after a late-night session that stretched more than two hours past midnight. The bill now returns to the House of Representatives for final approval, with a Friday deadline looming before the White House must either enact the cuts or release the previously allocated funds.
The package, part of a rare “rescissions” procedure that seeks to reverse previously approved congressional spending, includes significant reductions to foreign aid and public broadcasting. Although the initial House version targeted health initiatives such as PEPFAR — the U.S. global AIDS relief program founded by former President George W. Bush — that controversial provision was removed after bipartisan pushback.
The passage marks a key test of the long-term influence of Musk’s DOGE office, which was dissolved following Musk’s departure from government earlier this year but left behind several cost-cutting proposals.
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), speaking to AFP, said the cuts align with Trump’s campaign to trim unnecessary expenditures. “I’ve been a big fan of the foreign aid accounts… but when you start spending money on a bunch of junk, and liberal programs disconnected from the purpose of the aid package, it makes it difficult on a guy like me,” he said.
If the House approves the measure by Friday, it would mark the first successful rescissions package in decades — a rare fiscal maneuver reflecting the Trump administration’s ongoing emphasis on aggressive budget reform.
