Democratic and GOP senators spar over Trump’s proposed budget cuts as officials are accused of risking children’s lives.

Senators Grill Budget Chief Over Foreign Aid and Humanitarian Impact

A tense session unfolded on Capitol Hill Wednesday as lawmakers pressed Trump administration Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought on the potential fallout of proposed federal budget cuts. The hearing, held by the Senate Appropriations Committee, centered on a rescissions package submitted by the administration earlier this month, igniting intense exchanges between Vought and both Democratic and Republican senators.

Tempers flared as Senator Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., confronted Vought with allegations that the administration’s budget reductions have led to catastrophic humanitarian consequences. Merkley cited a Boston University School of Public Health study, claiming that some 246,000 children have died as a result of funding cuts to foreign aid programs under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Merkley charged, “How do you feel about being responsible for hundreds of thousands of children dying because of your sudden interruption in these key programs?”

Vought forcefully denied the accusation, stating that every administration conducts program reviews to align spending with new priorities. “The American people voted for change. President Trump stands ready to put our fiscal house back in order and put the American taxpayer first,” Vought said. He added that “many foreign aid programs use benevolent-sounding titles to hide truly appalling activity that is not in line with American interests.”

Other Democratic senators, including Patty Murray, D-Wash., accused the administration of sidestepping congressional oversight and risking critical humanitarian and diplomatic interests. Murray pressed for details on how cuts would affect specific regions, but Vought maintained that commitments to key allies like Jordan and Egypt would remain intact. “We’ve been very clear in all the administration's priorities that all of our commitments with regard to Jordan and Egypt are maintained,” he responded.

Bipartisan Concerns Over Cuts and American Influence

Opposition was not confined to Democrats. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, raised concerns about cuts to public broadcasting, which she argued is vital for emergency services in rural states like Alaska. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., also voiced reservations, warning that reductions in foreign aid could weaken American influence and create openings for rivals such as China. “Instead of creating efficiency, you’ve created vacuums for adversaries like China to fill,” McConnell cautioned.

Vought responded that every dollar must be carefully managed and insisted that the rescissions package was necessary to demonstrate fiscal responsibility. “A vote for rescissions is a vote to show that the United States Senate is serious about getting our fiscal house in order,” he concluded.

The debate was briefly disrupted by protesters in the hearing room, underscoring the high stakes and public passions surrounding the issue. As Congress weighs the proposed cuts, the future of U.S. humanitarian programs—and the nation’s approach to global leadership—remains deeply contested.