Senate Republicans will scale back the White House’s $9.4 billion spending clawback request as they look to shore up their vote count.
Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), who is leading the rescissions effort in concert with the White House, said Republicans will remove a $400 million cut to the global AIDS program known as PEPFAR, bringing the total amount of cuts in the package down to $9 billion.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he expects the PEPFAR U-turn will be the only change made to the rescissions package, adding that there was a “lot of interest” among Senate Republicans to address the cut to the program created under President George W. Bush and credited with saving tens of millions of lives.
Schmitt’s comments came after White House Budget Director Russ Vought briefed senators during a closed-door lunch. Schmitt said the White House is on board with the change.
“We’re fine with adjustments,” Vought told reporters. “This is still a great package, $9 billion, substantially the same package. The Senate has to work its will, and we’ve appreciated the work along the way to get to a place where they think they’ve got the votes.”
A number of GOP senators, including Appropriations Chair Susan Collins of Maine, had raised concerns about the AIDS funding cuts. It’s not clear whether the $400 million rollback will be enough to secure her vote but it might placate enough Republicans to eke the package through the Senate.
“Susan Collins was very vocal against it” inside the lunch, said one person granted anonymity to discuss a private meeting. “I don’t think you can win her over.”
Other Republicans being closely watched are Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
Separately the administration won over South Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds by promising to alleviate proposed cuts to public radio and television by funding tribal broadcasters through a separate program.
The Senate is scheduled to start voting on the rescissions package Tuesday afternoon. Schmitt said he expected the changes to be reflected in a final “wraparound” amendment offered during a marathon series of votes expected Wednesday.
Any changes to the Senate product will necessitate another House vote ahead of a Friday deadline for action on the request.
Katherine Tully-McManus contributed to this report.
