Senate approves $9 billion in cuts to foreign aid, public media funding

Washington — The Senate passed President Trump’s request to rescind $9 billion in foreign aid and public broadcasting funding early Thursday, culminating an hours-long “vote-a-rama” and sending it back to the House ahead of a Friday deadline. In a 51-48 vote, Republicans Susan Collins, of Maine, and Lisa Murkowski, of Alaska, joined Democrats in opposing

Amid Israeli Strikes, Helsinki Commission Fears for Religious Minorities in Syria

Syrian security forces take aim from a rooftop position amid clashes in the southern city of Sweida, in the province of the same name, on July 16, 2025. Bakr Alkasem/AFP via Getty Images WASHINGTON—Commissioners and former staff with a key human rights panel are voicing concern over religious freedom in the new Syrian regime, now

Sources describe disarray at State Department after Trump administration’s layoffs

The sweeping layoffs that hit the State Department last week have triggered confusion and disruption at the agency, gutting some offices unexpectedly and forcing staff to scramble, multiple sources told CBS News.  The significant reductions and wholesale elimination of several key offices have heightened meaningful risks to U.S. national security, current and former officials said.