Trump Requests $9.4 Billion in Federal Budget Cuts Backed by Elon Musk’s Efficiency Plan

Trump proposes major budget cuts

NPR and WHO would lose funding

Musk spearheaded government audit

President Donald Trump formally submitted a request to Congress on Monday to slash $9.4 billion from the federal budget.

The proposal reflects a portion of the cuts recommended by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which was led by Elon Musk until May.

Among the most controversial targets are funds for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which supports NPR and PBS.

Cuts also include reductions to international aid programs like USAID and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Trump Budget Cuts Target Media and International Aid

Trump asks Congress to claw back $9.4 billion in DOGE savings, hits NPR and PBS. https://t.co/yjrekuwjhs
— USA TODAY Politics (@usatodayDC), June 3, 2025

The request was delivered on June 3, giving Congress 45 days to make a decision.

Unlike typical legislative efforts, this budget cuts proposal from Trump can pass with a simple majority in the Senate.

Meaning Republicans could move forward without reaching the 60-vote threshold needed to bypass a filibuster.

Senator Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine and chair of the Appropriations Committee, responded cautiously.

Legislative Process Could Allow Swift Approval

The White House has officially asked Congress to claw back $9.4 billion in already approved spending, taking funding away from programs targeted by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. https://t.co/am365m7e9c
— ABC15 Arizona (@abc15), June 3, 2025

Collins said her committee will evaluate how Trump’s budget cuts would impact global health, national security, and public media.

The Office of Management and Budget released further details of the plan in a post on social media platform X.

The post listed examples of targeted programs such as “electric buses in Rwanda” and “net-zero cities in Mexico.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson said the proposal will be voted on “as soon as possible.”

Criticism and Concerns Over Social Impact of Trump Budget Cuts

Trump proposes major budget cuts – PHOTO: Getty Images / MundoNOW Archive

Johnson praised Musk and his team for identifying “wasteful, redundant, and outdated programs,” according to USA Today.

“With President Trump, every dollar is used to serve the American people—not to fund bloated bureaucracies,” Johnson added.

The proposal comes amid a broader Republican strategy to project fiscal discipline ahead of the 2026 elections.

Elon Musk, who stepped down from DOGE in May, had previously set a goal of reducing federal spending by $2 trillion.

Conclusion

So far, DOGE claims to have identified $175 billion in potential savings.

The $9.4 billion now requested would represent the first phase of implementation.

Analysts anticipate intense debate over the cuts’ impact on public media and international cooperation.

Congress has until mid-July to decide whether to approve or reject the proposal.