House Rescission Package Deep-Dive
Background:
A rescission package refers to a proposal by the President to cancel or amend previously approved government spending, often targeting specific programs already set in place. In simple terms, it is the President’s way to propose budget cuts on a national level. The process involves the President submitting their rescission package to Congress, who, in turn, have 45 days to approve, reject, or change the proposed package.
2025 Rescission Package:
The Trump administration introduced a $9.4 billion rescission package, also known as DOGE cuts, on June 3, which passed the House of Representatives on June 12. In order to become law, the package must also pass the Senate and President Trump himself. According to CNN, “... this would codify the DOGE cuts into law, so that they can’t be reversed by the next administration or overturned by the courts.” The Senate has until July 18 to accept, deny, or amend the current rescission package.
In Sec. 2 “Rescissions of Budget Authority” of the H.R.4 Rescissions Act of 2025, President Trump outlines the proposed rescissions:
Of the unobligated balances under the heading “International Organizations—Contributions to International Organizations” made available by the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024 (division F of Public Law 118–47), $33,008,764 are permanently rescinded.
Of the unobligated balances under the heading “International Organizations—Contributions to International Organizations” made available by the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025 (division A of Public Law 119–4), $168,837,230 are permanently rescinded.
Of the unobligated balances under the heading “International Organizations—Contributions for International Peacekeeping Activities” made available by the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024 (division F of Public Law 118–47), $203,328,007 are permanently rescinded.
Of the unobligated balances under the heading “International Organizations—Contributions for International Peacekeeping Activities” made available by the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025 (division A of Public Law 119–4), $157,906,000 are permanently rescinded.
Of the unobligated balances in the first paragraph under the heading “Bilateral Economic Assistance—Funds Appropriated to the President—Global Health Programs” made available by the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025 (division A of Public Law 119–4), $500,000,000 are permanently rescinded.
Of the unobligated balances in the second paragraph under the heading “Bilateral Economic Assistance—Funds Appropriated to the President—Global Health Programs” made available by the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025 (division A of Public Law 119–4), $400,000,000 are permanently rescinded.
Of the unobligated balances under the heading “Department of State—Migration and Refugee Assistance” made available by the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025 (division A of Public Law 119–4), $800,000,000 are permanently rescinded.
Of the unobligated balances under the heading “Bilateral Economic Assistance—Funds Appropriated to the President—Complex Crises Fund” made available by the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025 (division A of Public Law 119–4), $43,000,000 are permanently rescinded.
Of the unobligated balances under the heading “Bilateral Economic Assistance—Funds Appropriated to the President—Democracy Fund” made available by the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025 (division A of Public Law 119–4), $83,000,000 are permanently rescinded.
Of the unobligated balances under the heading “Bilateral Economic Assistance—Funds Appropriated to the President—Economic Support Fund” made available by the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025 (division A of Public Law 119–4), $1,650,000,000 are permanently rescinded.
Of the unobligated balances under the heading “Multilateral Assistance—International Financial Institutions—Contribution to the Clean Technology Fund” made available by the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025 (division A of Public Law 119–4), $125,000,000 are permanently rescinded.
Of the unobligated balances under the heading “Multilateral Assistance—Funds Appropriated to the President—International Organizations and Programs” made available by the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025 (division A of Public Law 119–4), $436,920,000 are permanently rescinded.
Of the unobligated balances under the heading “Bilateral Economic Assistance—Funds Appropriated to the President—Development Assistance” made available by the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025 (division A of Public Law 119–4), $2,500,000,000 are permanently rescinded.
Of the unobligated balances under the heading “Bilateral Economic Assistance—Funds Appropriated to the President—Assistance for Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia” made available by the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025 (division A of Public Law 119–4), $460,000,000 are permanently rescinded.
Of the unobligated balances under the heading “Bilateral Economic Assistance—Funds Appropriated to the President—International Disaster Assistance” made available by the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025 (division A of Public Law 119–4), $496,000,000 are permanently rescinded.
Of the unobligated balances under the heading “United States Agency for International Development—Funds Appropriated to the President—Operating Expenses” made available by the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025 (division A of Public Law 119–4), $125,000,000 are permanently rescinded.
Of the unobligated balances under the heading “Bilateral Economic Assistance—Funds Appropriated to the President—Transition Initiatives” made available by the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025 (division A of Public Law 119–4), $57,000,000 are permanently rescinded.
Of the unobligated balances under the heading “Bilateral Economic Assistance—Independent Agencies—Inter-American Foundation” made available by the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025 (division A of Public Law 119–4), $27,000,000 are permanently rescinded.
Of the unobligated balances under the heading “Bilateral Economic Assistance—Independent Agencies—United States African Development Foundation” made available by the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025 (division A of Public Law 119–4), $22,000,000 are permanently rescinded.
Of the unobligated balances under the heading “Related Programs—United States Institute of Peace” made available by the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025 (division A of Public Law 119–4), $15,000,000 are permanently rescinded.
Amounts made available for “Corporation for Public Broadcasting” for fiscal year 2026 by Public Law 118–47 are hereby permanently rescinded. Amounts made available for “Corporation for Public Broadcasting” for fiscal year 2027 by Public Law 119–4 are hereby permanently rescinded.
Where does the Senate stand?
Rescissions require a simple majority vote in the Senate, now controlled by Republicans. However, there appears to be a lack of unity among Republicans, and Democrats remain united in their opposition, leading to uncertain prospects.
Publicly support:
Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) in a press release claimed “... this rescissions package takes serious steps to ensure hard-earned dollars of American citizens are not funding woke and weaponized programs around the world in the cloak of ‘foreign aid’ or public broadcasting that can only be described as politically biased.”
Senate Budget Chair Lindsey Graham (R-SC) told reporters, “What we got to do as Republicans is capture their work product, put it in a bill and vote on it.” (in reference to DOGE cuts/rescission package)
Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) claimed, "I'd like to be voting on them weekly, if not monthly."
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) claimed, "I'd like to see it yesterday" in reference to the rescission package.
Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) described meetings with OMB as a “very good back and forth” on rescissions.
Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) supports the rescissions and advocates for codifying the funding cuts to avoid legal pushback, claiming, “But sending a rescission package now could create a "conundrum" for the administration. It's pretty hard for them to argue in court that it's unconstitutional and then use this so-called unconstitutional provision to implement rescissions."
Publicly oppose:
Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) questioned the legislative priority of this package, claiming, “I don’t know that we should be taking our limited legislative time to look at that.”
Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), Chair of Senate Appropriations Committee, signaled she won’t support cuts to global women’s health programs and rescinding funds like PEPFAR or PBS/NPR. She stated, “I don’t see those passing.”
Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) supports the rescission process, but argues this package is too modest and urges for deeper cuts. He claimed, “The rescission package’s $9 billion is a pittance. It’s a rounding error and it should only be the beginning. If they’re not going to send us the $9 billion, it sends a really bad signal to anybody that is fiscally responsible that there’s going to be no change from doing things the way that they’ve always been done.”
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), according to CNN, “wrote an op-ed last month hailing public broadcasting and warning the administration against cuts. She called it an “invaluable resource that saves lives in Alaska.” She noted some local stations in Alaska rely on the funding to operate – for as much as 30% to 70% of their budgets – at relatively low cost to taxpayers.”
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of Senate Appropriations Committee, released a joint statement on the rescission package. They claimed, “They are blowing up the national debt to give the wealthiest few and biggest corporations huge tax breaks while ripping health care away from millions of Americans. Donald Trump’s misplaced priorities are exactly why Americans have quickly turned on his presidency.” They stated, “If Republicans choose to go along with this rescission package, they will follow Trump at their peril.”
Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, in a press release, claimed, "President Trump's rescission package is another attempt to defund more than 1,500 local broadcasting stations across the country, including 13 in the State of Washington. As a result, millions of Americans—particularly in rural communities—will be cut off from local newsrooms, lifesaving emergency alerts and programs they love.”