House Passes Bills Restoring Billions in Trump Foreign Aid Cuts

The United States House of Representatives voted 341-79 to pass funding bills for the State and Treasury departments that provide $19 billion to $20 billion more than the request from President Donald Trump. The legislation restores funding for programs the administration sought to eliminate, including $9.4 billion for global health and HIV services, $500 million for family planning and reproductive health, and $300 million for the vaccine alliance Gavi.

Lawmakers also rejected proposals to dismantle Voice of America and cancel $16.5 billion in Internal Revenue Service funding. The move follows a freeze on overseas assistance enacted by Trump upon taking office in January. Senate leadership has worked to replace the administration's budget blueprint to prevent a government shutdown scheduled for January 30.

Despite the bipartisan Congressional action, the White House maintains the president possesses the authority to disregard approved spending levels. The bills must be signed into law to ensure federal operations continue past the end-of-month deadline.