US President Donald Trump has threatened to withhold endorsements for Republican senators who don’t support a bill aimed at rescinding $9.4 billion of congressionally approved funds, particularly those targeting public media.
Trump’s statement comes as some senators, including Maine Sen. Susan Collins, have expressed concerns over the proposed cuts. The Senate is set to vote on the bill next week ahead of a July 18 deadline.
Collins has faced criticism for opposing certain spending cuts, including those aimed at global AIDS prevention funding and health programs. However, her opposition to public media funding has sparked Trump’s wrath.
Trump stated that he will not support any Republican senator who votes against his rescissions bill, particularly one that would defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (PBS and NPR).
The Senate can afford to lose support from only three senators before Vice President Mike Pence can cast a tie-breaking vote on the bill. Any amendments made by the Senate will need to be approved by the House again before July 18 or else Congress will be forced to spend money on targeted programs.
Source: https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/07/10/congress/trump-rescissions-00448150