House passes Trump's bill to claw back public broadcasting and foreign aid
發佈日期: 2025-07-18 21:33
TVB News
In the U.S., the House gave final approval to President Donald Trump's request to claw back about $9 billion for public broadcasting and foreign aid.
The vote marked the first time in decades that a U.S. president has successfully submitted such a request to Congress. The House passed the bill by a vote of 216-213.
The package cancels about $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and nearly $8 billion for a variety of foreign aid programs.
The cancellation of $1.1 billion for the CPB represents the full amount it is due to receive during the next two budget years.
The White House says the public media system is politically biased and an unnecessary expense.
The corporation distributes more than two-thirds of the money to more than 1,500 locally operated public television and radio stations.
Much of the remainder assigned to National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service to support national programming.
Among the foreign aid cuts are $800 million for a programme that provides emergency shelter, water and family reunification for refugees.
That's in addition to $496 million to provide food, water and health care for countries hit by natural disasters and conflicts.
There also is a $4.15 billion cut for programs that aim to boost economies and democratic institutions in developing nations.
Still, House Speaker Mike Johnson said the vote shows U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is delivering on its pledges of fiscal responsiblity.
"We clawed back $9 billion in taxpayer funds and wasteful spending," said Johnson. "Fraud, waste and abuse. We've been targeting that every area."
The effort to claw back a sliver of federal spending came just weeks after Republicans also muscled through U.S. President Trump's tax and spending cut bill without any Democratic support.
The Congressional Budget Office has projected that measure will increase the U.S. debt by about $3.3 trillion over the coming decade.
