Sunflower State News

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) appeared on Newsmax’s Wake Up America to discuss the White House's proposed rescissions package, which aims to cut $9 billion in federal spending. The proposal targets funding for organizations such as NPR and PBS.

During the interview, Marshall expressed optimism about the package's prospects in Congress. “I think we’ll get it across the finish line. And I think it’s important to remember why this is so important: our nation is $37 trillion in debt. We’re spending a trillion dollars a year in interest. We’re asking the Republicans to do what we said we were going to do. We said we were going to cut spending. Now, the One Big, Beautiful Bill, a record amount of spending cuts. But here’s a small chance to take a… $9 billion bite out of the apple.

“Look, folks back in Kansas are tired of the federal government spending a billion dollars on public broadcasting. In today’s world, I don’t see that the benefits outweigh the detriments here. I think there are better things to do with that money. I think that we should proceed forward.

“A second point, why this is important is it only takes 50 Republicans to do this. Usually in the Senate, it takes 60 votes. We got the Big, Beautiful Bill done with 50-plus votes, and we’ll do the same thing with this. I think we’ll get it across the finish line.”

Marshall commented on potential consequences if Congress does not approve the measure: “Well, I think that that means that the swamp is still really deep up here, and that Republicans aren’t willing to step forward and do the right thing. Look, DOGE has found like $2 trillion of waste, fraud, and abuse over the last 20-some years. $190 billion of cuts that they would like to make through wasted contracts and NGO grants, those types of things. This is a small bite of the apple.

“USAID – this is the number one thing on my list I gave to Elon and the team. I saw just the horrible fraudulent abuse out there, that USAID had become a slush fund for Democrats, where they hired their buddies and their relatives and did all their DEI malarkey, I’ll say.

“So, this is a chance for Republicans to stand up and do what we said we were going to do. Surely, 50 of us can do the right thing. Let’s put America first. Let’s take that $9 billion and pay down our debt.”

Addressing President Biden's comments regarding interference with passage of rescissions legislation in Congress: “Well, that may help Susan Collins, but the rest of us do not want to be on President Trump’s naughty list, right? So Mr. Putin is on President’s naughty list right now... But regardless...the President is America first... The Senate Republicans should be America first... We should get this rescissions package across...”

Marshall also raised concerns about President Biden's use of an autopen signature device during his administration as well as questions about his health: “Well look Joe Biden doesn’t know what day it is... Let’s invite him on Newsmax today... Come on in Joe Biden let’s have a live interview...” He questioned whether documentation exists showing Biden was involved in key conversations regarding official decisions.

On doctor-patient confidentiality relating to national security issues involving presidential health disclosures: “…I think law is in our favor already... If I’m called as witness then [subpoena] trumps my ethical obligation... If it impacts case at hand—in this case—the President putting our nation at risk—economically as well as national security—I think we're good with laws we have now—we just need enforce them—and if goes Supreme Court—they’ll prove us right here.”

The U.S.'s national debt currently exceeds $37 trillion according to recent data from the U.S Department of Treasury.