Trump’s Defund PBS Demand Sparks Senate Showdown Over $9.4B DOGE Cuts

The DOGE Cuts Firestorm: A Deep Dive Into Capitol Hill's Latest Political Brawl

Things are getting fiery in Washington, and the heat is coming from something you probably didn’t expect—DOGE cuts. No, this isn't about the cryptocurrency. We're talking about a sweeping $9.4 billion “rescission” package that includes sharp reductions in foreign aid and cuts to public broadcasting like NPR and PBS. What started as a straightforward GOP initiative has now exploded into a full-on political storm, with President Donald Trump throwing gasoline on the fire.

Let’s unpack this.

🔥 Trump’s Political Litmus Test: “Defund PBS or Lose My Support”

In true Trump fashion, the former president didn’t hold back on where he stands. Late Thursday night, he posted a clear warning on Truth Social: support the rescission bill, particularly the $1.1 billion cuts targeting public broadcasting, or you're out of his MAGA inner circle.

“It is very important that all Republicans adhere to my Recissions Bill and, in particular, DEFUND THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING (PBS and NPR),” Trump wrote. “Any Republican that votes to allow this monstrosity to continue broadcasting will not have my support or Endorsement.”

Yikes. That’s not just a suggestion—that’s a red line. And for many GOP lawmakers, crossing Trump’s red lines means political suicide in the primaries.

📉 What’s in the DOGE Rescission Package?

Let’s break down the numbers:

• $1.1 billion in cuts from public broadcasting (that means PBS and NPR)

• $8.3 billion in foreign aid cuts, including to programs that help with HIV/AIDS prevention and rural health services

This bill already squeaked through the House back in June, but only on a party-line vote. That alone tells you how hot this potato already is.

⚠️ GOP Senators: Divided, Concerned, and Caught in the Middle

Now that it’s the Senate’s turn, the GOP isn’t exactly marching in lockstep. Several Republican senators are clearly uneasy. One major concern: this whole thing could totally derail future bipartisan cooperation on government funding.

Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) laid it out plainly in a recent interview:

“If we get to the point where the Democrats look at this and say, ‘We can put it in the bill, but they’re not going to fund it, or they’re not going to use it,’ then there’s no reason for them to work with us to get to 60 votes.”

That’s some real talk. And he’s not alone in expressing concern. GOP members understand the optics—and the consequences—of this kind of unilateral defunding move, especially when it comes to sensitive areas like public health and rural broadcasting.

🧨 Democrats Aren’t Buying It: Schumer Comes Out Swinging

On the other side of the aisle, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer blasted the GOP's move, calling it a betrayal of the bipartisan budgeting process.

In a strongly worded letter to his colleagues, Schumer warned:

“It is absurd for them to expect Democrats to act as business as usual and engage in a bipartisan appropriations process to fund the government, while they concurrently plot to pass a purely partisan rescissions bill to defund those same programs negotiated on a bipartisan basis behind the scenes.”

Translation? You can’t shake hands on a deal with your right hand while stabbing it in the back with your left.

And it’s not just talk—Schumer's message carries real consequences. If Democrats pull their support from future funding talks, the whole appropriations process could implode. Remember, thanks to the Senate's filibuster rules, most bills still need 60 votes. Without bipartisan cooperation, government funding doesn’t happen.

📆 The Clock is Ticking: July 18 and September 30 Deadlines Loom

This isn’t just a political drama—it’s a race against time.

If the rescission bill doesn't pass the Senate by July 18, the administration is legally bound to spend all the money it's trying to cut. That means the $9.4 billion stays in play, no matter what Trump or the House GOP wants.

And then there’s the big deadline: September 30, the end of the fiscal year. If lawmakers can’t reach a deal on how to fund the government by then, we’re looking at another government shutdown. That would be the latest in a long string of shutdowns that have made Capitol Hill look more like a circus than a legislative body.

💡 Why This Matters Beyond the Beltway

It’s easy to shrug this off as “just politics,” but these cuts have real-world consequences:

• PBS and NPR: These institutions serve rural and underserved communities with educational programming, emergency alerts, and more. Losing funding could mean shutdowns of local stations in small towns that rely on them.

• Foreign aid cuts: These include vital support for HIV/AIDS prevention and disaster relief in developing nations. Cutting this aid could create global ripple effects—including security threats and humanitarian crises.

So yeah, this isn’t just about political infighting. It’s about lives, livelihoods, and the kind of country we want to be.

💬 Behind the Scenes: White House Wants No Changes

According to a White House official who spoke to Business Insider on condition of anonymity, the administration wants the Senate to pass the package as-is. No changes. No amendments. No debate.

But good luck with that.

If even a single amendment is added in the Senate, the entire bill has to go back to the House for another vote. That’s another layer of complication and another opportunity for the whole thing to fall apart.

💣 Ron Johnson’s Take: Burn It All Down?

Not everyone is worried about preserving the current budget system. Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI), for one, seems ready to nuke the whole process.

“The appropriations process should be undermined,” Johnson told BI. “It’s bankrupting the country. That needs to be busted up.”

Johnson represents a faction of the GOP that’s done with “business as usual” and sees sweeping cuts as the only way to rein in spending. To them, this rescission package is the first step in a much bigger revolution.

🧭 Where Do We Go From Here?

The future of the DOGE cuts is wildly uncertain. Here are a few possible scenarios:

1. Senate passes the bill unchanged: Trump wins, Democrats fume, and future bipartisan negotiations become even harder.

2. Senate amends the bill: It heads back to the House, where the delay could kill it before the July 18 deadline.

3. Senate rejects the bill outright: Trump loses a key battle, and the GOP gets an earful from its base.

4. No funding deal by Sept. 30: The government shuts down. Again.

Whichever path this takes, one thing’s for sure—this isn’t the last time we’ll see Washington playing with political fire over funding. Stay tuned.

Key Takeaways:

• Trump is demanding GOP loyalty on cutting PBS and NPR funding.

• The rescission package includes $9.4B in cuts, already passed by the House.

• Senate GOP is divided, with some fearing it’ll destroy bipartisan cooperation.

• Democrats, led by Schumer, are warning of long-term funding chaos.

• Senate has until July 18 to act—or risk the cuts disappearing altogether.

• September 30 remains the ultimate shutdown deadline.