Appropriations Committee debates rescinding Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative funds

The Senate passed the Rescissions Act of 2025 on Jul. 17 by a 51-48 vote, clawing back $9 billion Congress had already appropriated, $7.9 billion in foreign aid and $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Mitch McConnell initially voted against procedural motions alongside Collins and Murkowski, forcing VP Vance to cast tie-breaking votes. McConnell switched to yes on final passage after Republicans stripped $400 million in PEPFAR cuts. Collins and Murkowski joined all Democrats in opposing the final bill, while Schumer called it "an affront to the bipartisan appropriations process."