Quigley Statement on Republican Rescission of Foreign Aid and Public Broadcasting Funding

U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the House Appropriations’ National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Subcommittee, released the following statement after House Republicans voted to advance President Trump’s rescissions package, which would claw back $9.4 billion in funding:

“Republicans’ support of Trump’s recissions package is a reckless abdication of our nation’s global leadership and a direct assault on the free press. At a time when authoritarian regimes around the world are stoking conflict and instability, this bill destroys one of our most powerful diplomatic tools: humanitarian aid. Trump, Elon Musk, and House Republicans have gutted lifesaving foreign assistance, including global programs that fight the spread of HIV, provide life-saving care to mothers and babies, and improve food security. Insecurity abroad will make us less safe at home.

“This legislation also devastates public broadcasting, including PBS, NPR, and Chicago’s WTTW, and makes drastic cuts to emergency alerts. Let me be clear: this package was not about rooting out ‘waste, fraud, and abuse.’ It is about fulfilling the Trump administration’s goal of concentrating unilateral power to control taxpayer dollars and putting billionaire interests ahead of the public’s.

"Trump has called himself 'the King,' but he is not. The American people know that. I know that, and I will continue to push back against his efforts to override the will of the people and our global leadership.”