The Senate voted by a razor-thin margin late Tuesday to advance debate on a package of funding cuts requested by President Trump. They’re aimed at clawing back $1.1 billion previously allocated to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, along with $7.9 billion earmarked for international efforts to combat famine and disease.
Vice President JD Vance had to be called to the floor to cast the tie-breaking vote after Republican Sens. Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins deadlocked the chamber as they joined all Democrats in voting against the measure.
The vote follows approval in the House last month for the president’s request. But the Senate Appropriations Committee removed PEPFAR, the U.S. AIDS relief program begun by President George W. Bush, from the package of cuts, according to Senate Majority Leader John Thune.
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