The next is the transcript of an interview with Sen Chris Van Hollen, Democrat of Maryland, that aired on “Face the Country with Margaret Brennan” on July 27, 2025.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And we are joined now by way of Maryland Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen, who’s a type of appropriators we have been simply talking about with the price range director. You simply heard the whole lot he laid out. There have been no specifics on when those clawbacks might be coming, however they are at the desk. He says they do not wish to close down. He did not appear to mention they would like, you understand, a seamless solution. Have you learnt what is coming?
SEN. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: No longer truly. The only factor we all know, and also you requested Russ Vought about this, was once he says that the method is simply too bipartisan at this time, that means that they wish to use this procedure simply to ram during the time table and the whole time table we noticed after they handed the so-called Giant, Gorgeous Invoice, which was once gorgeous for billionaires, however now not truly for anyone else, which is to offer tax cuts for terribly rich other people on the expense of everyone else. And I do wish to say Margaret, I heard him deny that that invoice higher the deficit and debt. The nonpartisan Congressional Funds Administrative center simply stated it higher our debt by way of 3.5 trillion ahead of added pastime.
MARGARET BRENNAN: He is the use of an accounting gimmick in regard to the benchmark.
SEN. VAN HOLLEN: As- and Republicans have referred to as out this accounting gimmick, so when–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –And it was once accepted–
SEN. VAN HOLLEN: Smartly, they kind of unilaterally imposed it, it was once now not accredited by way of Democrats, and it was once a departure from earlier efforts. However you understand, then they arrive again and so they say that they wish to lower those necessary methods, NIH and different issues to scale back the deficit, when, if truth be told, what they are doing it for is to lend a hand check out finance the ones tax cuts for terribly rich other people.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So it is simply heading us against beautiful unchartered territory and really unclear whether or not we will keep away from a central authority shutdown. Democrats are going to be blamed if there is a shutdown, do not you assume? I imply, how do you sidestep this?
SEN. VAN HOLLEN : We without a doubt do not want a central authority shutdown. And I feel everyone has heard Russ Vought say that they would like a much less bipartisan procedure. What that tells me is they are prepared simply to make use of their powers to take a look at to close down the federal government if they do not get their approach. And what is ironic about this Margaret is you’ve Russ Vought calling for those deep cuts to training NIH, when he has requested for an build up for his OMB price range. He requested for a 13% build up for his OMB price range. He is requested for extra other people to enroll in the OMB group of workers, whilst he is speaking about RIFing other people at different departments, just like the Division of yeah- eliminating firing other people on the Division of Veterans Affairs and different necessary priorities. So it is exhausting to take the OMB Director severely when he says that they did not build up the debt and when he says he desires to chop issues with the exception of for his personal price range and group of workers.
MARGARET BRENNAN: But when they do head against a central authority shutdown, why would there be any receive advantages until it’s to prioritize investment positive businesses and de-prioritizing different businesses. Smartly, that is going again to the chief, does not it, that authority?
SEN. VAN HOLLEN: Smartly, that in the end, even though you wish to have, as an example, 4 Republican senators to face at the back of what he is calling for. And what they have referred to as for is kind of only a double pass at the procedure, proper? That is what the so-called rescissions, is only a Washington title for double pass. They fortify something, someday, President even indicators off, after which they arrive again and say they modified their thoughts. And what we are asking is for 4 Republican senators simply to publicly claim that after they say they’ll fund the Veterans Affairs Division that they in fact imply it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: That they would possibly not later conform to claw that cash again.
SEN. VAN HOLLEN: Precisely
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper. So {one of the} issues the Trump management is obvious and did get clawbacks of is overseas help. Then again, there may be an exception. In June, the management introduced it will give $30 million to this Israeli-backed group referred to as the Gaza Humanitarian Basis, the GHF, I do know you are conversant in it. It delivers help via armed army contractors who stand at the back of the Israeli army in 4 designated zones that Gazans then need to get themselves to in an effort to obtain the help. The State Division says they are sending this cash. Have they?
SEN. VAN HOLLEN: To my wisdom, they’ve, despite the fact that we have requested for the main points, we have not gotten them. In truth, simply nowadays, I am sending a letter to Secretary Rubio, signed with 20 of my colleagues, calling for more info, but additionally calling for defunding this. American taxpayers must now not be spending one penny to fund this non-public group sponsored by way of mercenaries and by way of the IDF that has change into a loss of life entice. Over 1000 other people have died from being shot and killed as ravenous other people crowd to take a look at to get meals at simply those 4 websites.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The- simply to be transparent right here, the State Division says they’ll ship $30 million. Reuters had reported that there have been paperwork they acquired appearing 7 million had already been despatched to those, what you name, armed mercenaries. However the Trump management says that is the easiest way, that is the one approach, to stay money- to stay meals out of the palms of Hamas, which financially advantages off reselling it to determined ravenous other people. Is there otherwise to feed determined ravenous other people?
SEN. VAN HOLLEN: Sure. And that is a- a large lie, the declare that once the UN organizations have been turning in meals to Palestinians civilians, that it was once being systematically diverted to Hamas. I wish to say loudly and obviously, it is a large lie. Trump is–
MARGARET BRENNAN: The systematic a part of that.
SEN. VAN HOLLEN: The systematic, however this is their declare. They declare that necessarily, massive quantities of help are being diverted to Hamas. What we all know now, from testimony of American officers, Cindy McCain, and simply this week, prime stage Israeli army officers, is that there is not any proof to fortify that. AID, USAID, simply launched a document pronouncing there is not any proof to fortify that. So what the Netanyahu executive did was once scrap a supply device that was once operating at turning in meals and help in choose of this different effort. That was once a pretext, this declare that Hamas was once systematically diverting meals. The true purpose of this different effort is to make use of meals as a weapon of warfare and inhabitants regulate.
MARGARET BRENNAN: That is a contravention of global legislation.
SEN. VAN HOLLEN: Sure, it’s.
MARGARET BRENNAN: That is a human rights abuse. Senator Lindsey Graham was once on “Meet the Press” this morning, and I wish to ask on your response to one thing he stated, as a result of he was once very robust in his phrases. He stated, for the reason that ceasefire talks fell aside, Israel is reassessing. He stated to be expecting a complete army effort by way of Israel to take Gaza down, quote, “like we did in Tokyo and Berlin. They are going to do in Gaza what we did in Tokyo and Berlin, take where by way of pressure, get started yet again, provide a greater long run.” The USA is a large supporter of the State of Israel. Is there the rest that would save you what he says is set to occur?
SEN. VAN HOLLEN: Smartly, america must make very transparent that it is unacceptable to make use of U.S. guns to focus on or indiscriminately fireplace on civilians and civilian infrastructure. So–
MARGARET BRENNAN: As a result of this feels like an profession.
SEN. VAN HOLLEN: Smartly, we additionally know, simply this week, participants of the Netanyahu coalition, if truth be told, executive ministers, referred to as for necessarily erasing Gaza, and so they stated, it is going to change into a Jewish state, statelet. And section of- so- this was once certainly one of the–
MARGARET BRENNAN: Netanyahu did say he did not trust his observation.
SEN. VAN HOLLEN: Smartly, this is the issue even though, Margaret, we regularly see that Netanyahu, on the finish of the day, does cater to his maximum a ways proper wing of his- of his executive, other people like Ben Gvir, other people like Smotrich. That’s what has allowed him to stick in energy, and so on the finish of the day, he is taking probably the most excessive positions.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator Van Hollen, thanks on your time nowadays. We’re going to be proper again with much more “Face the Country.” Stick with us.
