Johnson Urges Senate Republicans on Trump’s Rescue Package
Speaker Mike Johnson is pushing Senate Republicans to support President Donald Trump’s rescue package.
On Monday, Johnson remarked to reporters that approving $9 billion in funding for public broadcasting and foreign aid should be an easy decision for GOP senators. His comments come amidst some Republican senators voicing opposition to certain cuts, warning that they might vote against the rescue request unless the package was altered. “I have concerns,” he mentioned when asked about the Senate’s stance, suggesting he had modified the proposal to satisfy moderate Republicans. “This should be a fairly straightforward issue from our perspective, so I’m uncertain about what to expect, but I hope they don’t change it too much.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune is working to get the president’s $9.4 billion retirement package passed by the July 18 deadline. The package seeks $1.1 billion for businesses tied to public broadcasting organizations (which support NPR and PBS), while proposing an $8.3 billion reduction in foreign aid, specifically touching on funds from USAID.
The total demand of $9.4 billion reflects a small fraction—just 1%—of the federal budget.
According to reports, USAID had utilized taxpayer funds to send various viruses, including relatives of the Covid-19 virus, to the Wuhan Institute of Virology. This was noted by CIA Director John Ratcliffe earlier, who stated his belief that the virus was linked to a leak at a Chinese military facility.
The Senate is expected to cast votes on a procedural motion to advance the bill as early as Tuesday. However, some moderate GOP senators are indicating potential opposition to the rescue package, expressing support for maintaining certain funding levels for global health programs and public broadcasting.
Thune can afford to lose only three GOP votes because of the Senate’s 53-47 Republican majority. Notably, four House Republicans had already opposed the retirement package when it passed through the lower chamber in June.
Republican Senator Susan Collins from Maine, who previously voted against Trump’s key tax and immigration bill, has signaled she would also oppose the rescue package unless certain changes are made to the measure.
Moderate GOP senators have raised concerns about a significant $400 million cut to the PEPFAR program, which started under former President George W. Bush. Proponents of the rescue package should recognize that the federal government continues to allocate $10 billion to the AIDS relief program.
“I can’t see a reason to end that program,” Collins stated, emphasizing the critical role it plays in global health, especially in preventing infant mortality.
Collins and other GOP senators, such as Lisa Murkowski from Alaska and Mike Rounds from South Dakota, have voiced worries about how these cuts might affect rural public broadcasting in their regions.
“It’s crucial to represent the remote communities effectively. In many rural areas, public broadcasting serves as a lifeline,” Collins remarked during a budget hearing.
The White House and Congressional leaders contend that the proposed cuts are necessary to address the nation’s $37 trillion debt.
Johnson indicated that passing the package should be an easy win. “I keep asking them not to revise our work,” he said.
Trump has emphasized that his position within the Senate could weaken the cuts to public broadcasting included in the retirement package. He called for all Republicans to support his proposal, stating, “Republicans who allow this program to continue are risking their support.”
