The Senate was split in a 50-50 deadlock on Tuesday over a sweeping $9.4 billion government rescissions package—until Vice President JD Vance stepped in to cast two decisive tie-breaking votes that pushed the measure forward.
The proposal, backed by the White House, seeks to eliminate billions in previously approved federal spending, including significant cuts to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB)—which helps fund PBS and NPR. The legislation mirrors a version that narrowly passed the House of Representatives last month, 214–212.
Three moderate Republican senators—Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Susan Collins (R-Maine)—joined all Democrats in opposing the bill, citing concerns over the lack of clarity about which programs would lose funding.
If enacted, the plan would claw back roughly $8.3 billion from USAID and $1.1 billion from CPB. A proposed $400 million reduction to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is expected to be removed through an amendment before the final vote, according to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.).
“There was a lot of interest from our members on doing something on PEPFAR,” Thune explained following a meeting with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought. “We hope that if we can get this across the finish line in the Senate, the House will accept that one small modification that ends up making the package about a $9 billion rescissions package.”
Senator Susan Collins criticized both the process and the proposed cuts. “The rescissions package has a big problem — nobody really knows what program reductions are in it,” she said, noting that the OMB had failed to supply lawmakers with details normally required for such legislation.
Collins also voiced concerns that cuts to CPB would unfairly harm local public media. “The reductions to public broadcasters are excessive,” she warned, adding that federal support in her home state of Maine helps maintain the emergency alert system and enables community broadcasts like high school sports coverage.
With debate now underway, senators have up to 10 hours to discuss possible amendments before a final vote. Should it pass, the House will need to review and approve any Senate revisions before sending the measure to the president’s desk.