Trump didn’t need this.
Republicans in Congress have approved a major government spending package that includes $643 million for the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM—an agency President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized and previously attempted to shut down.
The decision reflects the difficult balancing act GOP leaders face in the House, where slim margins leave little room for internal division. In this case, Republicans opted to keep the government funded rather than risk a shutdown by fighting over one controversial line item.
The funding was included in the National Security, Department of State and Related Programs Act (NSRP), a broad spending bill that supports international broadcasting through radio, television, and digital platforms, particularly in the Middle East. The measure passed both chambers of Congress this week and now awaits President Trump’s signature.
Supporters of the bill argue that Republicans still made progress toward the president’s goals. Rep. Mark Alford, R-Mo., who helped negotiate the package, said discussions with Kari Lake—a senior adviser to USAGM closely aligned with President Trump—led to a meaningful reduction in funding.
According to Alford, the final bill cuts the agency’s budget by roughly 25 percent, a move he described as a step toward reform rather than full elimination.
President Trump, early in his second term, issued an executive order seeking to dismantle USAGM, the parent organization of Voice of America. The administration argued the agency had strayed from its original mission and no longer reflected American values. However, federal courts ruled that the White House lacked authority to remove congressionally approved funding, allowing the agency to continue operating.
Despite those legal limits, many Republicans remain skeptical of the agency’s role. Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., said he would prefer to see USAGM receive no taxpayer funding at all.
“We simply don’t have extra money to spend,” Higgins said ahead of the vote. Still, he acknowledged that opposing the bill outright could have led to a government shutdown—an outcome Republicans are eager to avoid.
With just a two-seat majority in the House, GOP lawmakers say every vote matters. Internal opposition, even on high-profile issues, risks stalling legislation and handing leverage to Democrats.
Democrats, meanwhile, acknowledged that the spending package resulted from bipartisan negotiations. Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Ill., declined to detail specific discussions but said appropriations bills often reflect compromise on both sides.
Now headed to President Trump’s desk, the NSRP bill highlights the ongoing tension between advancing conservative priorities and navigating the political realities of governing with narrow margins. As Congress moves into the next round of spending debates, Republicans are expected to face renewed pressure from their base to push further reforms—while keeping the government open.
