Update — July 18: The US House of Representatives has approved the $9 billion rescissions package, sending the bill to the president’s desk. The package includes deep cuts to public broadcasting and foreign aid.

The US Senate has approved a $9 billion rescissions package that cancels previously authorized federal spending, including deep cuts to public broadcasting and foreign assistance.

H.R. 4 reflects the president’s request to rescind previously approved funding from earlier budget laws. The measure, passed in a 51-48 vote early Thursday, now returns to the House for final approval before heading to the president’s desk.

The president must sign the rescissions bill by the end of Friday, July 18; otherwise, the federal government will spend the funds as initially approved by Congress.

While most of the package targets international programs, cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting have raised concerns about the impacts on local public media, especially in rural areas, where county residents often rely on these outlets for news and emergency communications.

The rescission process allows the president to propose the cancellation of previously approved funding, which Congress must then approve within 45 days. Unlike typical appropriations bills, rescission packages can bypass the Senate filibuster, requiring only a simple majority for passage.

While rarely used in recent decades, the process offers a powerful tool for the executive branch to scale back spending. However, it often sparks debate over transparency, precedent, and executive overreach.

The rescissions vote comes amid broader debates over federal budget priorities and long-term fiscal strategy. As previously reported on Conduit Street, earlier this month, the president signed a massive budget reconciliation package with significant implications for Maryland, including changes to the tax code, rollbacks of clean energy initiatives, and substantial shifts in Medicaid and SNAP costs.

Stay tuned to Conduit Street for more information.