VP JD Vance Casts Tie-Breaking Votes to Advance Controversial $9.4 Billion Budget Cut Package Targeting PBS, NPR

Vice President JD Vance cast two tie-breaking votes in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, pushing forward a $9.4 billion spending reduction package that would eliminate federal funding for public broadcasters PBS and NPR, among other programs. The votes followed a 50-50 deadlock in the Senate on two key procedural motions to begin debate on the White House-backed rescissions proposal.

The plan, which narrowly passed the House of Representatives last month in a 214–212 vote, aims to claw back funds previously allocated for various foreign aid and domestic programs. The most prominent cuts include roughly $8.3 billion from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the body that supports PBS and NPR.

Three Republican senators—Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Susan Collins of Maine—broke with their party to oppose the measure, citing transparency concerns and the impact on essential services.

An additional $400 million cut to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is expected to be withdrawn via a Senate amendment before the final vote. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) confirmed the likely revision, stating that several senators raised concerns about reductions to the globally respected health program.

“There’s been strong interest from our members in preserving funding for PEPFAR,” Thune said following a closed-door meeting with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought. “We think the Senate can make that change, and we’re hopeful the House will agree to this adjustment, trimming the final package to about $9 billion.”

Senator Collins, who has long supported public broadcasting and international development, defended her opposition by criticizing the lack of transparency from the OMB. According to her, lawmakers were not given sufficient detail about which specific programs would be eliminated or scaled back under the proposal.

“This package is problematic because we simply don’t know what we’re cutting,” Collins said in a statement. “The administration hasn’t provided a full breakdown, and that makes responsible decision-making nearly impossible.”

She specifically highlighted the $2.5 billion proposed cut to the “Development Assistance” account within USAID, which she said funds everything from clean water initiatives and food aid to primary education in impoverished regions.

“These are life-saving, stabilizing programs,” she noted. “Without details, we’re voting blind.”

Collins also voiced concern over the elimination of CPB funding. While acknowledging her disapproval of NPR’s editorial bias, she said the proposed defunding of PBS was excessive and could undermine valuable community services in her home state of Maine.

“Look, I’ve been frustrated with NPR’s slanted reporting, and I understand the desire to hold them accountable,” she said. “But PBS still serves vital roles, especially in rural areas. It airs local news, emergency alerts, and even community events like high school sports. Cutting all funding could mean losing access to cherished programming like Antiques Roadshow and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.”

The Senate now enters a minimum of ten hours of formal debate on the bill. Amendments can be proposed and voted on during this period before the final Senate vote is held. Should the chamber approve a version with changes, the House will need to review and approve the modified package.

The debate has also drawn public attention, especially after a recent House hearing involving NPR CEO Katherine Maher, who came under scrutiny from Republican lawmakers. During the hearing, GOP members raised concerns about political bias in public broadcasting, pointing out that NPR’s editorial staff included 87 registered Democrats and no registered Republicans.

Although Maher acknowledged the disparity, she defended NPR’s journalistic integrity and said staff political affiliation did not dictate editorial content. However, her previous comments about the First Amendment being a challenge for journalism raised alarms among conservatives.

In a surprising twist, HBO host Bill Maher expressed support for privatizing public media following the hearing. On a CNN “Overtime” segment, Maher responded to a viewer question by stating that the hearing made a “compelling case” for removing government support for both NPR and PBS. He criticized Maher (no relation) for defending what he sees as an imbalanced and increasingly partisan newsroom.

“Public trust in media matters, and when it looks one-sided, people lose faith,” Bill Maher said. “Maybe it’s time to let these organizations stand on their own, without taxpayer support.”

As the Senate prepares for the final vote, the fate of long-standing public media support—and billions in foreign aid—now hangs in the balance, with the vice president playing a decisive role in the outcome.