WATCH: McConnell says Trump administration’s funding cuts have been ‘unnecessarily chaotic’

Though there’s “plenty of absolute nonsense masquerading as American aid” that shouldn’t receive taxpayer money, Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said the Trump administration’s attempts to root out government waste have been “unnecessarily chaotic.”

Russell Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, appeared before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday to defend President Donald Trump’s request to claw back billions in funds already appropriated by Congress.

The committee chair stressed the importance of “responsible” investments in soft power that help prevent conflict and preserve America’s influence abroad, while also saving lives.

“In critical corners of the globe, instead of creating efficiencies, you've created vacuums for adversaries like China,” the senator told Vought.

McConnell said the Trump administration’s approach to funding for the Department of Defense “calls into question the ability to keep those campaign promises,” such as the president’s oft-touted “peace through strength” approach.

If the Senate approves the rescissions package, which the House approved in June, it would mean roughly $9.4 billion in spending cuts that targets federal funding for public broadcasting, which supports NPR and PBS, as well as international aid programs, such as the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, known as PEPFAR, among other programs.

The Trump administration, led by the Department of Government Efficiency’s broad efforts to slash government spending, has described the public media system as biased and unnecessary and said the targeted programs in the rescission request promote liberal ideologies, or are a waste of taxpayers’ money.

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