U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, delivered an opening statement at a full committee hearing with Russell Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget. The hearing focused on reviewing the President’s $9.4 billion rescissions package request.
Senator Collins began by referencing the special message transmitted by the President under the Impoundment Control Act (ICA) on June 3rd. “That message proposes to rescind $9.4 billion in previously appropriated funds, including $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and $8.3 billion for foreign assistance,” she stated.
The ICA was enacted in the 1970s to protect Congress’ constitutional authority regarding spending. It allows the President to propose rescissions, but funding can only be canceled through an act of Congress.
Collins noted that several proposed rescissions do not specify which programs would face reductions within their overall accounts. She highlighted concerns about potential impacts on programs like Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and aid to allies such as Jordan and Egypt.
The majority of proposed foreign assistance rescissions are from fiscal year 2025 funds, while those for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting come from advance appropriations for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.
Collins expressed particular concern over two areas: a proposed $400 million rescission from PEPFAR and eliminating advance appropriations to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. She emphasized PEPFAR’s success since its launch in 2003 by former President George W. Bush and noted that cutting its funding would be “extraordinarily ill-advised.”
Regarding public broadcasting, Collins pointed out that more than 70 percent of its funding supports local television and radio stations, which provide essential services in states like Maine.
She concluded by stressing that significant bipartisan oversight is conducted on spending by her committee and called attention to issues such as delayed budgets and missing details making federal budgets less transparent.
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