The House voted to cut billions of dollars for foreign aid and public broadcasting early Friday morning, a win for President Donald Trump as he is plagued by GOP divisions over the release of the files of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The White House’s $9 billion rescissions package cleared the chamber, 216-213. Two Republicans, Reps. Mike Turner (R-OH) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), voted with all Democrats against the bill, and the legislation now heads to Trump’s desk for his signature.
Republicans used a procedure that automatically “deems” the bill as passed when members voted for the procedural rule, instead of having to take a vote on both the rule and final passage.
The journey to putting the rescissions package — which codifies several cuts identified by the Department of Government Efficiency — on the House floor was a rollercoaster for Johnson and Republican leaders, coming so soon after the infighting over the “big beautiful bill” that led to record-breaking floor time and several days of negotiations.
The legislation, which passed the Senate early Thursday morning, faced an uphill battle to get to the floor that afternoon.
Leadership battled with Rules Committee members who didn’t want to be put on record voting against Democratic amendments that called for the release of information related to Epstein. The Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein files has driven a wedge within the GOP and given Democrats a messaging opportunity.
The passing of the spending clawback comes at a time when Trump’s MAGA base has revolted over the administration’s findings that there was not a so-called “client list” of Epstein’s that had long been speculated over. But it also comes after the Wall Street Journal published an article Thursday that Trump was one of many to write Epstein a letter for his 50th birthday, which, in part, included an imaginary conversation between the pair that said they had “certain things in common.”
The album in which the letter was included was assembled before Epstein was first arrested in 2006, according to the outlet. Trump has denied writing the letter and has pledged to sue the outlet for publishing the story.
“The Wall Street Journal, and Rupert Murdoch, personally, were warned directly by President Donald J. Trump that the supposed letter they printed by President Trump to Epstein was a FAKE and, if they print it, they will be sued,” he wrote in a Truth Social post.
Trump said in a different Truth Social post that he directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to “produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval.”
He added, “This SCAM, perpetuated by the Democrats, should end, right now!”
Earlier this week, all but one Republican — Rep. Ralph Norman (R-NC) — voted against an amendment from Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) on Monday to release the files in the Rules Committee.
Republicans met at 6 p.m. on Thursday to advance two rules: one covering the recissions package and another covering a resolution calling for the release of some of the Epstein files. It is similar to the resolution filed by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), which already has bipartisan support.
TRUMP TO SUE WSJ AND RUPERT MURDOCH AFTER ‘DEFAMATORY’ STORY ON EPSTEIN BIRTHDAY LETTER
Both rules passed the Rules Committee along party lines. The Epstein-related resolution can be brought up at a later date, but it is unclear when it will receive a vote on the House floor.
Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) filed a discharge petition that compels the Department of Justice to release information related to the disgraced, since-deceased financier, including the so-called infamous “client list.” A federal investigation found that there was no list, but Trump’s “Make America Great Again” base and a large bloc of GOP lawmakers are demanding all documents be released to the public.
The rescissions package slashes budgets for USAID, PBS, NPR, and other aid programs. The House passed an earlier version of the legislation in early June that called for $9.4 billion in rescissions, but the version passed Thursday exempted $400 million in funding for AIDS prevention — a Senate move to shore up GOP support.
