House GOP Edges Toward $9.4 Billion in DOGE Budget Reductions

Speaker Mike Johnson faced potential humiliation as the closely divided GOP-led House was poised to dismiss billions in DOGE reductions. However, a strategic discussion with Rep. Nick LaLota, a centrist from New York who initially voted against, altered the outcome. After a few minutes of deliberation, LaLota's vote shifted, ultimately ensuring the passage of the spending cuts package. Although he refused to provide details of their conversation, LaLota hinted it linked to his advocacy for state and local tax breaks—an issue critical enough to jeopardize President Trump's broader agenda in the Senate. Nevertheless, the tension surrounding this vote underlines the intricate dynamics of the local tax debate among Senate Republicans. While the House bill's approval signals a win for Trump, doubts linger about its acceptance in the Senate, where skepticism persists among GOP members, including Sen. Susan Collins. Meanwhile, public media organizations, like PBS, are mobilizing efforts to thwart these proposed cuts, advocating fiercely for their essential funding as this legislative battle progresses.