Arizona GOP Delegates Back Trump’s Spending Cuts
In a significant move, Arizona’s Republican congressional members have supported President Donald Trump’s initiative to retract billions of dollars in foreign aid and public media funding. The rescission package, passed narrowly in the U.S. House with a 216-213 vote, involves a $9 billion reduction in previously approved spending. This includes $8 billion primarily meant for foreign aid and $1.1 billion designated for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting over two years, impacting NPR, PBS, and local affiliate stations nationwide.
The foreign aid cuts cover a wide range of services, including democracy promotion, economic development in emerging nations, refugee assistance, and disaster relief. The passage of this package marks a triumph for the Trump administration, aligning with the president’s commitment to curtail federal expenditures.
Congressman Abe Hamadeh expressed satisfaction with the vote, highlighting the significance of reducing what he termed “wasteful spending” to prioritize America. “With his vote for this first rescission package, Congressman Hamadeh once again made good on his promise to his constituents to eliminate wasteful spending and put America First,” he stated in a social media post.
Conversely, Democratic voices like Rep. Greg Stanton contested the notion of wastefulness in these cuts, emphasizing their role in sustaining vital support and projecting U.S. influence globally. “We need to be building good, strong relationships around the globe, particularly at a time when we are having this economic competition with China,” Stanton remarked.
Despite the absence of comments from Arizona’s Republican delegation, Rep. Paul Gosar communicated via email, framing the cuts as a solution to government inefficiency, a sentiment echoed in GOP circles. Gosar attributed the initiative to the Department of Government Efficiency, previously headed by Elon Musk.
The GOP’s decision to target the Corporation for Public Broadcasting stems from perceived liberal bias within NPR and PBS. Rep. Andy Biggs highlighted this in a tweet, stating, “House Republicans blocked taxpayer funding for the Left’s mouthpieces NPR and PBS and woke USAID projects. $9 billion is only a drop in the bucket — the work is far from over.”
Critics argue that local public media stations, especially in rural areas, will bear the brunt of these cuts. Senator Ruben Gallego noted potential severe impacts on rural stations, which rely heavily on federal support. “What happens in rural travel areas that don’t have big corporations, don’t have big donors, don’t have any type of funding — they’re going to essentially shut down,” Gallego warned.
Federal contributions to public broadcasters like NPR and PBS, although modest overall, form a substantial part of the budgets for numerous local stations. An analysis by The New York Times suggests that the cuts could jeopardize 37 TV and 78 public radio stations, potentially leading to closures.
In response, Sen. Mark Kelly proposed an amendment to preserve some public media funding, albeit unsuccessfully. He underscored the importance of these services, particularly in rural communities with limited internet access, for educational content and crucial information during emergencies.
“Do we want an educated population? If we do, then this is a small investment,” Kelly argued, pointing to the broader implications of the funding reductions on American society and its global stance.
EDITOR’S NOTE: KJZZ receives community grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
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