Senate Republicans are expected to move forward on Wednesday with efforts to codify some of the Department of Government Efficiency cuts to programs such as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and public broadcasting.

Senators made numerous changes to the legislation, which targets funding for foreign assistance programs and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Most notably, they removed a $400 million cut to the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

The rescissions bill to claw back funding approved for foreign aid, NPR and PBS is a top Trump priority, but some Senate Republicans have raised concerns about the cuts.

In a statement, Duffy said the Federal Railroad Administration terminated approximately $4 billion in unspent funding for “California’s High Speed Rail Boondoggle,” saying the $135 billion projected cost of the project could buy every San Francisco and Los Angeles resident nearly 200 round trip flights between the cities.

Senate appropriators on Thursday advanced plans for a $456 billion budget for Veterans Affairs programs and benefits next fiscal year, putting it generally in line with House and White House goals for future department spending.

Republicans in the House and Senate have until Friday to pass the recissions measure that targets foreign assistance and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

WASHINGTON, July 1 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate's massive budget bill that passed on Tuesday will make it harder to develop wind and solar energy projects, despite the removal of some contentious provisions, industry advocates and lawmakers said.