Once Again, Republicans Follow President Trump’s Marching Orders to Steal Taxpayer Money
Cuts Package Makes Americans Less Safe, Robs Communities of Access to Critical Public Broadcasting
In July 16 Letter from DeLauro and Frankel: “…the Constitution and the rule of law requires the Administration to deliver to the American taxpayers the investments... Anything else would be a betrayal of their oaths of office.”
WASHINGTON — Yet again, House Republicans rubberstamped Elon Musk’s stealing of American taxpayer money. The $9 billion rescissions package does nothing to address the cost-of-living crisis, hurts middle class and working families, and undermines national security. These cuts weaken the United States in order to pay for tax breaks for billionaires.
This package was considered after months of the Trump administration already illegally freezing these funds.
“With this bill, Republicans are shutting down rural television and radio stations—cutting off coverage of local news, eliminating emergency information like severe weather alerts, and jeopardizing access to PBS KIDS children’s programming, like Sesame Street and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. They are ripping life-saving support away from hungry, displaced, and sick people in developing countries and conflict zones, and ending programs that prevent conflict and pandemics. This is a bill that puts America last, forcing the United States to retreat from the world, diplomatically, and through our assistance to vulnerable people,” said Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03). “Since taking office, the Trump Administration has stolen funds appropriated by Congress, passed by Republicans and Democrats in the House and in the Senate and signed into law by the President, upending the separation of powers and our Constitutional order. They are doing all this to hand billionaires and the biggest corporations – who already pay little to no taxes – a massive tax break in the Big Ugly Bill. Passing this bill was shameful and its ramifications will be felt not only in our communities, but around the world.”
Congresswoman DeLauro’s remarks delivered on the House Floor are here.
“I voted no because this bill marks a dangerous turn toward indifference, isolation, and the betrayal of our global responsibilities,” said State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Ranking Member Lois Frankel (D-FL-22). “It guts programs that have saved lives, opened markets, and prevented conflict for decades. Through defunding of public broadcasting, it will leave millions of Americans less informed and less prepared for disasters. Worse yet, this bill signs away Congress’s power of the purse and hands it squarely to Donald Trump. This won’t lower costs for American families or shrink the deficit. But it will make the world more dangerous—and make our country less safe, less secure, less prosperous and less respected in the world.”
Congresswoman Frankel’s remarks delivered on the House Floor are here.
Yesterday, DeLauro and Frankel sent a letter to their colleagues warning them of what is to come in the months ahead, “While Congress completes consideration of the President’s June 3 cuts proposal, we must briefly address the looming threat on the horizon. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Vought has repeatedly threatened to undermine the rule of law and attack Congress’s constitutional power of the purse by tricking the President into submitting an additional and cynically-timed special message…Absent Congressional legislation, the Constitution and the rule of law requires the Administration to deliver to the American taxpayers the investments passed by both chambers of Congress and signed into law by the President. Anything else would be a betrayal of their oaths of office.”
An updated fact sheet on this cuts package can be found here. DeLauro and Frankel’s June 6, 2025, letter on these rescissions is here. Their July 16, 2025, update is here.
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