US House of Representatives on Thursday voted in favor of House Resolution 4 (HR4), which will retract approximately $9 billion in funds that had already been allocated for the next two fiscal years.  The cuts are to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), along with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), international peacekeeping and health initiatives, and other foreign aid.

The final vote in the House was 216-213, with two Republicans joining all Democrats in opposing the bill.  The final vote in the Senate was 51-48, with three Republicans opposed.  Moving the bill to the floor for a full Senate vote required a tie-breaking vote by Vice President JD Vance.

HR4 was allowed under the terms of the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (ICA). Section 1012(b) of the ICA grants authority to the President to withhold previously-approved funding pending congressional approval of rescission. The Government Accountability Office defines rescission as “legislation enacted by Congress that cancels the availability of budget authority previously enacted before the authority would otherwise expire.”

HR4 is also known as the Rescissions Act of 2025.  The US Senate passed the resolution earlier this week and the House initiated the resolution at the request of President Donald Trump. With the approval of both levels of US Congress, once President Trump signs the resolution, it will become law.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said there would be additional rescissions bills coming stating: “This isn’t the end, it’s the beginning.”

One of the affected entities, CPB, funds media broadcasters such as National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), which the Trump administration and supporters have accused of having a liberal bias. USAID has been a special target of the Department of Government Efficiency.