The Senate is conducting a vote-a-rama on the White House's proposal to rescind $9 billion in funding, with debates over specific cuts and protections for health programs, amid partisan disagreements and upcoming deadlines. Meanwhile, other legislative activities include cryptocurrency bills, tax proposals for digital assets, and investigations into former President Trump's associates, reflecting a busy and contentious legislative session.
Senate Republicans are working to secure support for Trump's proposed spending clawbacks, with ongoing discussions and concerns about the details and impact on programs like global AIDS and food aid, as some senators seek more clarity before endorsing the measure.
Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought is advocating for the cancellation of $9.4 billion in federal funds, including foreign aid and public broadcasting, facing resistance from GOP senators concerned about the impact on programs like PEPFAR and public media. The proposal aims to reduce the deficit but has sparked protests and legal concerns about executive overreach, with key Senate figures expressing opposition to specific cuts.
The head of the Social Security Administration, Kilolo Kijakazi, has ordered a comprehensive review of how the agency deals with overpayments after it was revealed that about 1 million people a year receive notices that they were paid benefits to which they were not entitled. The agency has been criticized for issuing billions of dollars in erroneous payments and then demanding beneficiaries to pay the money back, often years later. Many of those facing clawbacks are poor and disabled individuals. The agency estimates that it overpaid people by $6 billion in the 2021 fiscal year and ended the 2022 fiscal year with $21.6 billion in uncollected overpayments. The review will examine the causes of overpayments, the confusing notices sent to beneficiaries, and ways to make the process more efficient.
