U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has expressed her opposition to the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) rescissions package due to a lack of clarity on which programs would face reductions.
"The rescissions package has a big problem – nobody really knows what program reductions are in it," Collins stated. She emphasized that the issue is not due to insufficient review time but rather the absence of detailed information from OMB, which would typically accompany such proposals.
Collins highlighted that Congress regularly approves rescissions with an understanding of the specific cuts involved. However, this time, the text sent to Congress lacked sufficient detail about the proposed $9.4 billion in program cuts. For instance, she pointed out that $2.5 billion in cuts to the Development Assistance account could impact various sectors like education and food security without clear insights into how these areas will be affected.
She agreed with OMB's identification of certain wasteful grants, such as one promoting vegan food in Zambia under a Biden Administration grant, asserting confidence that such spending would not occur under the Trump Administration.
Collins also noted her satisfaction with the administration's decision not to pursue a $400 million cut to PEPFAR, praising its success in global AIDS prevention.
Regarding cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Collins warned they could harm local programming and accessibility to popular shows while acknowledging NPR's biased reporting. She emphasized that local TV and radio stations provide vital coverage and services in Maine.
While recognizing the need for fiscal responsibility and having supported numerous rescissions previously, Collins stressed the importance of knowing which programs are impacted and understanding their consequences before proceeding with any cuts.
