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 As the deadline approaches, GOP infighting over Trump’s DOGE spending cuts is set to take center stage

Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine is seen at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on June 30, 2025.

Congressional Republicans Brace for Battle Over Trump’s DOGE Spending Cuts Amid Deadline Pressure

Congressional Republicans are preparing for a high-stakes legislative fight over proposed DOGE spending cuts targeting foreign aid and public broadcasting. Failure to pass the cuts risks angering President Donald Trump, who is applying intense pressure ahead of a critical July 18 deadline.

Trump has threatened to withhold his endorsement from any Republican who opposes the cuts, underscoring the high political stakes. His cost-cutting plan, part of the Department of Government Efficiency initiative, aims to rescind $9.4 billion in funds Congress previously approved for foreign aid and public broadcasting programs.

The cuts must pass both the Senate and House by Friday, using a rarely employed presidential budget tool called a “rescission,” which circumvents the Senate filibuster. While the GOP-led Senate is expected to make adjustments, these changes may face resistance in the House, setting up another legislative showdown on a key Trump priority.

Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins has been a vocal opponent of certain proposed cuts, particularly the $400 million rollback of the PEPFAR global AIDS program and funds for maternal and child health. Collins, a Maine Republican up for reelection, has expressed support for some spending reductions but opposes cuts to global health initiatives. She also voiced reservations about funding NPR, citing perceived partisanship.

Other senators, like Mike Rounds of South Dakota, have raised concerns about impacts on rural radio stations, which rely heavily on federal funding and serve communities including Native American reservations.

Meanwhile, GOP hardliners argue the White House’s proposal doesn’t go far enough. Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin criticized potential changes to the package, warning he “won’t like it.” House GOP leaders acknowledge internal divisions but believe the bill will pass if Trump continues to push hard.

This marks the second time this month Republicans have sought to advance Trump’s rescission agenda, which budget chief Russ Vought hopes to use repeatedly to curb congressional spending without Democratic support. A similar effort in Trump’s first term failed after the Senate rejected a $15 billion cuts package.

Democrats, led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, have condemned the rescission effort as a roadblock to bipartisan negotiations and warned it could lead to a government shutdown ahead of the next funding deadline in September. Schumer called it “absurd” to expect Democratic cooperation while Republicans renegotiate previously agreed bipartisan spending.

Even some Republicans doubt the package will pass in a narrowly divided Congress. Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana noted, “We got a lot of Republicans who talk tough. We’ll see if they’re tough.”