Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wielded an Elmo doll on the House floor, using the beloved Sesame Street character as a poignant symbol in his impassioned argument against a Republican-led package of spending cuts.
The House narrowly voted 214-212 to slash approximately $9.4 billion in funds already approved by Congress, a move championed by President Donald Trump’s administration and rooted in the previous work of the Department of Government Efficiency under Elon Musk.
The targeted cuts aim at a range of programs, including foreign aid and, most notably for the Jeffries’ protest, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which funnels money to National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), along with thousands of local public radio and television stations nationwide.
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“We’re on the floor of the House of Representatives not debating legislation that is designed to make this country and our economy more affordable but actually debating legislation that targets Elmo and Big Bird and Daniel Tiger and Sesame Street,” Jeffries claimed before the vote Thursday, holding up the bright red Elmo doll.
His theatrical protest underscored Democratic outrage, as they vehemently oppose the cuts, asserting they will cripple the United States’ international standing and lead to dire consequences.
Jeffries sharply criticized the move, stating, “Cruelty is the point.” Concerns have been raised previously by public broadcasting organizations, with NPR even suing the Trump administration over a prior executive order to cut funding.
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Republicans, conversely, have characterized the spending as “wasteful and unnecessary,” arguing for fiscal responsibility.
House Republican Conference Chair Rep. Lisa McClain stated, “This rescissions package sends $9.4 billion back to the U.S. Treasury. That’s $9.4 billion of savings that taxpayers won’t see wasted. It’s their money.” The vote set the stage for a contentious battle with Democrats and highlights the administration’s aggressive push to rein in federal expenditures.
The Trump administration is utilizing a rarely employed mechanism that allows the president to formally request Congress to cancel previously appropriated funds. This request triggers a 45-day period during which the funds are frozen pending congressional action. If Congress fails to act within this timeframe, the original spending stands.
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A significant advantage of this rescissions request for the administration is that its passage requires only a simple majority in the 100-member Senate, bypassing the typical 60-vote threshold for spending bills. This means a united Republican front in the Senate could pass the measure without any Democratic support.
However, the bill’s journey through the Senate may not be swift. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) indicated that the Senate would likely not take up the bill until July, prioritizing Trump’s major tax and immigration legislation. Thune also left open the possibility that the Senate could amend the bill.
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