President Trump’s $9 billion clawback package made it through the Senate with strong Republican support—except for two GOP senators who sided with Democrats and raised eyebrows.
Key Facts:
- President Trump’s $9 billion clawback bill passed the Senate, aiming to cut unspent foreign aid and public broadcasting funds.
- Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) were the only two Republicans to vote against it.
- Collins cited lack of detail and transparency from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as her reason for opposition.
- Murkowski opposed cuts to public broadcasting, especially after Alaska faced tsunami warnings that relied on local stations.
- Other GOP senators defended the bill, saying the cuts are minimal and help spotlight government waste.
The Rest of The Story:
Despite near-unanimous Republican support, two GOP senators joined every Democrat to oppose Trump’s $9 billion rescission bill.
Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins objected to how the bill was structured and what it might cut.
Collins, who chairs the Appropriations Committee, warned that the plan was too vague.
“The sparse text,” she said, “did not give a specific accounting of programs that would be cut.”
She pointed to the $2.5 billion in potential cuts to Development Assistance accounts, which include basic needs like food security and water, as especially troubling.
Murkowski focused on the bill’s impact on public broadcasting, especially in rural areas like Alaska.
On the day of the vote, her state had just experienced tsunami warnings, which were broadcast through local public radio.
She told the Senate, “Today of all days, we should vote down these misguided cuts to public broadcasting.”
Both senators tried to amend the bill.
Collins withdrew hers, while Murkowski offered one to soften the blow to broadcasters—but both efforts failed.
GOP senators like Ron Johnson and Eric Schmitt countered their arguments.
Johnson said the proposed cuts were “less than a tenth of a percent of the federal budget,” calling it a “chip shot.”
Schmitt argued the bill was part of Congress doing its job to trim waste and restore fiscal discipline.
Commentary:
Here we go again.
Two Republican senators—Collins and Murkowski—voting against their party, the president, and the vast majority of Americans who are tired of runaway government spending.
These two vote “no” so often on GOP priorities, it begs the question—why are they still calling themselves Republicans at all?
Their pattern of siding with Democrats is no accident. It’s who they are. Their votes speak louder than any party label.
Murkowski’s obsession with public broadcasting—especially when it serves as a megaphone for liberal agendas—shows how out of touch she is with her base.
Her tsunami story may be heartfelt, but the broader issue is about reining in unnecessary spending, not preserving outdated broadcast systems.
Collins hides behind process concerns, but let’s be real.
She chairs the Appropriations Committee. She had every opportunity to ask questions or push for clarity beforehand.
Her argument that vague language justifies siding with Democrats rings hollow.
It’s no secret these senators have always despised President Trump. They’ve fought him at every turn.
Murkowski openly refused to back him in 2016 and 2020.
Collins practically makes a career out of “breaking ranks.”
Their hostility toward Trump is thinly veiled at this point.
Alaska deserves better. Murkowski’s constant defiance of her own voters should be remembered come election season.
It’s time for Alaska to elect someone who actually reflects the values of the state.
As for Maine, let’s not kid ourselves. That state leans left, and Collins’ vote lines up with that crowd.
If she’s replaced, it’ll likely be by a Democrat who at least admits what party they’re in.
She’s no conservative, not even close.
The good news? The rest of the Senate GOP held together. That’s encouraging.
If Republicans can stay united, future efforts to cut spending might actually succeed—and that’s exactly what this country needs.
The Bottom Line:
Trump’s rescission bill passed despite the usual dissent from Murkowski and Collins, who once again aligned with Democrats.
Their excuses about transparency and rural radio fall flat against the bigger picture of fiscal responsibility.
Republican unity on this vote signals a promising shift toward budget discipline.
But Alaska and Maine voters should take a hard look at whether their senators are still representing their values.
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