Texas Representative Jasmine Crockett (D) fiercely condemned House Republicans’ razor-thin vote to slash approximately $9.4 billion in already approved spending. The move, championed by President Donald Trump’s administration and stemming from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under Elon Musk, drew immediate and strong rebukes from the Democratic firebrand, who labeled the cuts as an act of “cruelty.”
Taking to X in the aftermath of the 214-212 vote, Crockett blasted the measure.
“Republicans just passed a package that guts $9.4 BILLION in critical funding. They’re coming for global health, humanitarian aid, national security—and even PBS and NPR. And they’ve got the audacity to call it ‘waste.'”
READ: “Political Theater”: Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett Unloads On House Panel, Defends Sanctuary States
The targeted cuts aim at a diverse range of programs, including crucial foreign aid and, notably, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which provides funding to National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), alongside thousands of local public radio and television stations nationwide.
While Republicans, through House Republican Conference Chair Rep. Lisa McClain, defended the action as fiscally responsible and a return of “$9.4 billion of savings that taxpayers won’t see wasted,” Crockett offered a starkly different perspective.
“Let me be real clear,” Crockett asserted on X. “What they’re cutting saves lives. What they’re cutting keeps the world stable. What they’re cutting tells the truth. This DOGE rescission package isn’t about saving money—it’s about serving cruelty.”
READ: Jeffries Wields Elmo On Floor As U.S. House Votes To Cut Billions, Including PBS/NPR Funding
Her sentiment echoed that of Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, who more broadly stated, “Cruelty is the point.”
Crockett’s vocal opposition highlights the deep partisan chasm over the administration’s aggressive push to rein in federal expenditures.
Her comments also underscore long-standing Democratic concerns about the impact of such cuts on vital services and the nation’s global standing. Public broadcasting organizations, including NPR, have previously challenged the Trump administration over proposed funding cuts.
The Trump administration is employing a rarely used mechanism that allows the president to formally request Congress to cancel previously appropriated funds, initiating a 45-day freeze on those funds pending congressional action.
READ: U.S. House Approves $9.4 Billion In DOGE Cuts, Including PBS And NPR
This “rescissions request” holds a significant procedural advantage for the administration: its passage in the 100-member Senate requires only a simple majority, bypassing the typical 60-vote threshold for spending bills. This means a united Republican front in the Senate could push the measure through without any Democratic support, despite Crockett’s passionate appeals.
However, the bill’s path through the Senate is not guaranteed to 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, and leaving open the possibility of amendments to the bill. This delay offers Democrats like Crockett more time to rally opposition and highlight what they see as the devastating consequences of these spending cuts.
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