This Could Change DC Politics | Episode 85

Congress is facing a critical test: to pass a $9.4 billion rescissions package proposed to cut wasteful government spending. Speaker Mike Johnson highlighted outrageous expenditures targeted for cuts, including millions for foreign projects like net zero cities in Mexico and voter ID efforts in Haiti, as well as taxpayer funding for NPR and PBS.

Despite the small size relative to the overall budget, at least five Republican senators are resisting these cuts, endangering a symbolically important opportunity to demonstrate fiscal responsibility. Failure to pass this package by Friday means no cuts at all, but if they fail, a larger rescissions package could be sent later that would bypass Congress entirely, allowing the president to implement even more substantial cuts.

This is seen as the simplest test of whether Republicans can actually fulfill their campaign promises to reduce government spending, with major implications for their credibility.

> If they fail this week, there's literally nothing they can do to help us. They absolutely suck.
> > — Vince Coglianese

• Republicans face a crucial test to cut $9 billion in government spending by Friday.
• Failure to achieve this would prevent future spending cut packages and harm their credibility.

• The Supreme Court upheld the Trump administration's authority to fire education officials.
• The decision supports cutting the ineffective Department of Education and its wasteful spending.