Chicago Friday, July 18th, 2025
House Passes Trump’s $9 Billion Funding Cuts
The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill early Friday to cut $9 billion from public media and foreign aid. The bill, supported by President Trump, now heads to the White House to be signed into law.
The vote was close, 216-213, with only two Republicans—Brian Fitzpatrick and Mike Turner—joining Democrats in opposition. The Senate had removed a $400 million cut to a global HIV/AIDS program before sending it back to the House.
Republicans called the cuts a step toward “fiscal sanity,” while Democrats warned they would hurt public safety and America’s global influence. The debate was delayed for hours as some Republicans demanded more transparency about Jeffrey Epstein’s case.
To address concerns, Republicans proposed a resolution asking the attorney general to release Epstein-related documents within 30 days. Democrats criticized it as weak, saying it lacked enforcement power.
The bill now awaits Trump’s signature.
