By — Steff Staples Steff Staples Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/read-trumps-full-memo-asking-congress-to-claw-back-approved-spending-targeted-by-doge Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Read Trump’s memo asking Congress to take back approved funding for foreign aid, PBS, NPR Politics Updated on Jun 4, 2025 9:56 AM EDT — Published on Jun 3, 2025 5:35 PM EDT President Donald Trump asked Congress on Tuesday to take back $9.4 billion in federal funding for foreign aid, the State Department and public media. The rescission request would codify the work of the Department of Government Efficiency, which sought to shutter the U.S. Agency for International Development, eliminate foreign aid programs it deemed wasteful and cease funding for other international institutions. READ MORE: What you need to know about impoundment, and how Trump vows to use it The request includes almost $1.1 billion in funds that were previously approved by Congress to support the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). CPB distributes funds to NPR and PBS local stations, which combine federal money and their own fundraising efforts to support the public media networks. CPB funding is typically approved two years in advance to discourage political influence over the budgeting process. Congress now has 45 days to act on the request. The move is the Trump administration’s latest effort to defund PBS and NPR. Last month, Trump issued an executive order to end federal funding for both organizations, accusing them of bias and arguing they should not be supported by taxpayer dollars. PBS and NPR have filed separate lawsuits against the executive order, citing First Amendment violations. WATCH: Ex-DOGE staffer: ‘I have no idea’ who was in charge Both the House and Senate need to approve the request for the funding to be rescinded. If either chamber denies or ignores the request, the Trump administration will be legally required to release the money. Read Trump’s full memo by clicking below: We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Steff Staples Steff Staples
President Donald Trump asked Congress on Tuesday to take back $9.4 billion in federal funding for foreign aid, the State Department and public media. The rescission request would codify the work of the Department of Government Efficiency, which sought to shutter the U.S. Agency for International Development, eliminate foreign aid programs it deemed wasteful and cease funding for other international institutions. READ MORE: What you need to know about impoundment, and how Trump vows to use it The request includes almost $1.1 billion in funds that were previously approved by Congress to support the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). CPB distributes funds to NPR and PBS local stations, which combine federal money and their own fundraising efforts to support the public media networks. CPB funding is typically approved two years in advance to discourage political influence over the budgeting process. Congress now has 45 days to act on the request. The move is the Trump administration’s latest effort to defund PBS and NPR. Last month, Trump issued an executive order to end federal funding for both organizations, accusing them of bias and arguing they should not be supported by taxpayer dollars. PBS and NPR have filed separate lawsuits against the executive order, citing First Amendment violations. WATCH: Ex-DOGE staffer: ‘I have no idea’ who was in charge Both the House and Senate need to approve the request for the funding to be rescinded. If either chamber denies or ignores the request, the Trump administration will be legally required to release the money. Read Trump’s full memo by clicking below: We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now