The White House recently submitted a request to Congress for significant budget cuts, totaling a staggering $9.4 billion. This proposal, spearheaded by President Donald Trump, primarily targets funding for U.S. foreign aid programs and federally funded media outlets such as PBS and NPR.

The proposed rescissions package directly incorporates several cost-cutting measures previously suggested by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This marks a pivotal moment, representing the first time Congress will consider and potentially act upon recommendations from the DOGE.

It’s important to understand what a rescission entails. It’s essentially a retraction of funds that Congress had previously allocated for specific programs or policies. This process is governed by the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, which mandates that the President submit such requests to Congress for consideration. Congress then has a 45-day window to either approve or reject these proposed cuts through a simple majority vote.