Vice President JD Vance cast a crucial tiebreaking vote on Tuesday to advance the long-debated bill that codifies the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts — a major budget rollback effort targeting public media, foreign aid, and environmental programs.
With the Senate split 50–50, Vance once again stepped in as the deciding vote, giving the bill the green light for debate and a possible final vote as early as Wednesday.
GOP Divide: 3 Republicans Break with Trump
Despite unified pressure from the White House, three Republican senators broke ranks and voted with all 45 Democrats and two independents to block the bill:
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Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
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Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)
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Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Their defection momentarily imperiled President Trump’s sweeping rollback of Biden-era spending — particularly his plans to cut funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, PEPFAR HIV/AIDS aid, and foreign aid initiatives that Trump has repeatedly blasted as “America Last.”
“They would like a blank check is what they would like,” McConnell said of the administration. “And I don’t think that’s appropriate.”
What’s in the Bill?
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Total Cuts: Trimmed from $9.4 billion to $9 billion
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PEPFAR Funding: $400 million preserved after GOP pushback
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Public Broadcasting: Targeted for significant reductions
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Foreign Aid: Major rollback in U.S. international programs
The revisions, which restore funding for the popular HIV/AIDS relief program created by George W. Bush, increased the chances of passage — especially with moderate Republicans who raised humanitarian concerns.
“This bill is a first step in a long but necessary fight to put our nation’s fiscal house in order,” said Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO).
Vance Steps In — Again
Vice President JD Vance has now cast multiple tiebreaking votes since assuming office. His decisive role in shepherding Trump’s legislative priorities has earned praise from conservatives and criticism from Democrats, who accuse him of rubber-stamping partisan demands.
“We are lawmakers. We should be legislating,” Sen. Murkowski fumed. “What we’re getting now is a direction from the White House… I don’t accept that.”
Concerns Over Transparency
Even some GOP holdouts criticized the lack of clarity in how exactly the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) intends to implement the rescissions.
“Nobody really knows what program reductions are in it,” said Sen. Collins. “OMB has never provided the details that would normally be part of this process.”
To address those concerns, OMB Director Russ Vought met privately with Senate Republicans, taking over 20 questions during a closed-door lunch.
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) said he switched to support after Vought identified Green New Deal funds that could be diverted to protect tribal radio grants.
Dems Slam Process as a “Sham”
Democrats — joined by Independents Bernie Sanders and Angus King — slammed the bill and process as a partisan ambush, warning it would destroy trust in future bipartisan spending deals.
“It shreds the appropriations process,” warned King.
“This body becomes a rubber stamp for whatever the administration wants.”
