{"id":2463295,"date":"2025-07-18T01:15:01","date_gmt":"2025-07-18T05:15:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trumps-9b-doge-cuts-pass-house-as-johnson-tempers-epstein-divisions\/"},"modified":"2025-07-18T01:17:18","modified_gmt":"2025-07-18T05:17:18","slug":"trumps-9b-doge-cuts-pass-house-as-johnson-tempers-epstein-divisions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trumps-9b-doge-cuts-pass-house-as-johnson-tempers-epstein-divisions\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump&#8217;s $9B DOGE cuts pass House as Johnson tempers Epstein divisions"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftrumps-9b-doge-cuts-pass-house-as-johnson-tempers-epstein-divisions%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2463295&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed a $9 billion rescissions package aimed at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-want-to-slash-aid-to-iraq-lebanon-and-the-united-nations\/\" title=\"Re...ans Want To Slash Aid to Iraq, Lebanon, and the United Nations\">cutting foreign aid<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-all-things-considered-lawmakers-say-its-time-to-defund-npr\/\" title=\"Exclusive: Law...rs Advocate for Defunding NPR\">public broadcasting funding<\/a>,marking a legislative victory for President Donald Trump. The package, which reduces budgets for agencies like USAID, PBS, and NPR, passed 216-213 despite internal GOP divisions related to the ongoing controversy over the release of Jeffrey Epstein-related files. Two Republicans joined Democrats in opposing the bill. The legislation automatically passed via a procedural rule and now awaits Trump&#8217;s signature.<\/p>\n<p>The vote came amid sharp Republican infighting over demands to release Epstein-related documents, with some GOP members opposing Democratic efforts to make the files public. Trump has denied writing a purported birthday letter to Epstein, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, and has vowed to sue both the paper and Rupert Murdoch over the story.<\/p>\n<p>Republican leaders faced challenges securing support for the bill due to these controversies, but ultimately advanced the rescissions package. An additional resolution calling for the release of Epstein files has passed the House Rules committee but has not yet been scheduled for a floor vote. Simultaneously occurring, bipartisan efforts continue to push for the full disclosure of Epstein-related information, including the disputed &#8220;client list.&#8221;  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Trump&rsquo;s $9 billion DOGE cuts pass House as Johnson tempers GOP divisions over Epstein votes<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2176272\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/house-of-representatives\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">House<\/a>&nbsp;voted to cut billions of dollars for foreign aid and public broadcasting early Friday morning, a win for President&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Donald Trump<\/a>&nbsp;as he is plagued by GOP divisions over the release of the files of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.<\/p>\n<p>The&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/white-house\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">White House<\/a>&rsquo;s $9 billion rescissions package cleared the chamber, 216-213. Two Republicans, Reps. Mike Turner (R-OH) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), voted with all Democrats against the bill, and the legislation now heads to Trump&rsquo;s desk for his signature.<\/p>\n<p>Republicans used a procedure that automatically &ldquo;deems&rdquo; the bill as passed when members voted for the procedural rule, instead of having to take a vote on both the rule and final passage.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3475144\/republicans-biden-autopen-democrats-epstein-files\/\">GOP pivots to Biden autopen investigation for reprieve from Epstein firestorm<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/finance-and-economy\/3472164\/house-passes-crypto-week-legislation-after-republican-revolt\/\">House passes &#8216;crypto week&#8217; legislation after Republican revolt<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3474490\/comer-expands-biden-autopen-investigation-more-witness-interviews\/\">Comer expands Biden autopen investigation with more witness interviews<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The journey to putting the rescissions package &mdash; which codifies several cuts identified by the Department of Government Efficiency &mdash; on the House floor was a rollercoaster for Johnson and Republican leaders, coming so soon after the infighting over the &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sununu-outlines-ways-trump-can-win-early-momentum-is-real-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Sununu outlines ways Trump can win early: \u2018Momentum is real\u2019 - Washington Examiner\">big beautiful bill&#038;rdquo<\/a>; that led to record-breaking floor time and several days of negotiations.<\/p>\n<p>The legislation, which&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3473443\/trump-doge-cuts-passes-senate-rescission\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">passed<\/a>&nbsp;the Senate early Thursday morning, faced an uphill battle to get to the floor that afternoon.<\/p>\n<p>Leadership battled with Rules Committee members who didn&rsquo;t want to be put on record voting against Democratic amendments that called for the release of information related to Epstein. The Trump administration&rsquo;s handling of the Epstein files has&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3470822\/democrats-epstein-files-drive-wedge-trump-maga\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">driven a wedge<\/a>&nbsp;within the GOP and given Democrats a messaging opportunity.<\/p>\n<p>The passing of the spending clawback comes at a time when Trump&rsquo;s MAGA base has revolted over the administration&rsquo;s findings that there was not a so-called &ldquo;client list&rdquo; of Epstein&rsquo;s that had long been speculated over. But it also comes after the&nbsp;<em>Wall Street Journal<\/em>&nbsp;published an article Thursday that Trump was one of many to write Epstein a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/politics\/trump-jeffrey-epstein-birthday-letter-we-have-certain-things-in-common-f918d796?gaa_at=eafs&amp;gaa_n=ASWzDAiGVoKgq9ptc11fFQMIF4ZXNs0_u9CIvGvr3uCqddRpBkzFFTyqdgG_p2WVQ1Q%3D&amp;gaa_ts=6879c1c3&amp;gaa_sig=1nkWRrcB6rkf8Xpz31zTQ-MXT8-gWZOwngc8qqXtkbVvkFs6Oro6kGXl0QgDxxiDtEe2ND4bjNo5Y_03WZWYKA%3D%3D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">letter for his 50th birthday<\/a>, which, in part, included an imaginary conversation between the pair that said they had &ldquo;certain things in common.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The album in which the letter was included was assembled before Epstein was first arrested in 2006, according to the outlet. Trump has denied writing the letter and has pledged to sue the outlet for publishing the story.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Wall Street Journal, and Rupert Murdoch, personally, were warned directly by President Donald J. Trump that the supposed letter they printed by President Trump to Epstein was a FAKE and, if they print it, they will be sued,&rdquo; he wrote in a Truth Social post.<\/p>\n<p>Trump said in a different&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/114871557460531003\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Truth Social post<\/a>&nbsp;that he directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to &ldquo;produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>He added, &ldquo;This SCAM, perpetuated by the Democrats, should end, right now!&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this week, all but one Republican &mdash; Rep. Ralph Norman (R-NC) &mdash; voted against an amendment from Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) on Monday to release the files in the Rules Committee.<\/p>\n<p>Republicans met at 6 p.m. on Thursday to advance two rules: one covering the recissions package and another covering a resolution calling for the release of some of the Epstein files. It is similar to the resolution filed by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), which already has bipartisan support.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3475150\/trump-sue-wsj-rupert-murdoch-epstein-birthday-letter-story\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TRUMP TO SUE WSJ AND RUPERT MURDOCH AFTER &lsquo;DEFAMATORY&rsquo; STORY ON EPSTEIN BIRTHDAY LETTER<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Both rules passed the Rules Committee along party lines. The Epstein-related resolution can be brought up at a later date, but it is unclear when it will receive a vote on the House floor.<\/p>\n<p>Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA)&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3472397\/thomas-massie-ro-khanna-house-vote-complete-epstein-files\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">filed a discharge petition<\/a>&nbsp;that compels the Department of Justice to release information related to the disgraced, since-deceased financier, including the so-called infamous &ldquo;client list.&rdquo; A federal investigation found that there was no list, but Trump&rsquo;s &ldquo;Make America Great Again&rdquo; base and a large bloc of GOP lawmakers are demanding all documents be released to the public.<\/p>\n<p>The rescissions package slashes budgets for USAID, PBS, NPR, and other aid programs. The House&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3439491\/house-vote-rescissions-package-funding-cuts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">passed an earlier version<\/a>&nbsp;of the legislation in early June that called for $9.4 billion in rescissions, but the version passed Thursday <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3472107\/senate-republicans-spare-global-aids-program-doge-cuts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">exempted $400 million<\/a>&nbsp;in funding for AIDS prevention &mdash; a Senate move to shore up GOP support.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2176272\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2176272\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump&#8217;s $9B aid cuts pass House amid GOP Epstein tensions<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2648,"featured_media":2463296,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/mike_johnson_spending_cuts.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[23322,59388,41192,4162,3634],"class_list":["post-2463295","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-dogecoin","tag-epstein-divisions","tag-house-bill","tag-johnson","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/mike_johnson_spending_cuts.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2463295","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2648"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2463295"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2463295\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2463299,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2463295\/revisions\/2463299"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2463296"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2463295"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2463295"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2463295"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}