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Paul calls proposed spending cuts 'wimpy and anemic,' but his real problem is with the debt ceiling

Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., questions witness Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, during a hearing to examine the President Donald Trump's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2026 for the Department of Homeland Security on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP
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AP
Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., questions witness Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, during a hearing to examine the President Donald Trump's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2026 for the Department of Homeland Security on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

The Trump administration has signaled its intent to cement Department of Government Efficiency with a strategy known as "rescission." It's a move championed by Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, but the deficit hawk isn't sounding pleased with his party's overall posture toward spending.

Rescissions are utilized to cancel funding that had been previously approved. According to reports from a White House official, the administration is prepping a rescission package, but the Associated Press reports it's unclear how extensive they will be.

Paul told Fox News he doesn't see his own party holding the line on spending cuts.

"People are going to wake up in about two months and say, how come the deficit's still $2.2 trillion? Where did the savings go?" the lawmaker said.

While the senator said he welcomes the controversial DOGE cuts, he's drawing a line when it comes to supporting the omnibus bill that just narrowly cleared the US House.

"I think the cuts currently in the bill are wimpy and anemic, but I still would support the bill even with wimpy and anemic cuts if they weren't going to explode the debt. The problem is the math doesn't add up," Paul added. "They're going to explode the debt by the House says $4 trillion. The Senate's actually been talking about exploding the debt $5 trillion."

Paul does want to see the debt ceiling renewed, but only for several months at a time — as a way of holding his colleagues and the administration to their promises to slash spending.