Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is on a mission to keep the government's wallet on a diet. On Wednesday, he took to X to urge Congress to pass more rescission packages—essentially, a way for the president to claw back already-appropriated funds—after backing President Donald Trump's $9.4 billion spending rollback last year.

"Last year, I was proud to support President Trump's rescission package totaling $9.4 billion," Paul wrote. He added, "I think it's long past time for Congress to pass a few more of these rescission packages. It's time to end the wasteful spending."

Paul's call comes amid a broader debate over federal spending priorities. Trump's proposed fiscal 2027 budget would boost defense spending by about 44% to $1.5 trillion, while cutting non-defense programs by 10%, including reductions to housing, agriculture, healthcare, and environmental initiatives. The plan also increases funding for immigration enforcement, crime prevention, aviation safety, and a $10 billion infrastructure project for Washington, D.C. Administration officials say the goal is to strengthen national security.

But not everyone is on board. Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) criticized the proposal, arguing that funds for a White House ballroom and a $1.8 billion "weaponization fund" could have been better spent on public services like infrastructure, healthcare, and education. She said the spending choices show misplaced priorities.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) went further, calling the budget a "slush fund" for political projects and claiming it lacks meaningful efforts to reduce costs for American families. He added that Democrats are focused on affordability, while Republicans support Trump's budget priorities.

So, the stage is set for a classic Washington showdown: Paul wants more rescissions to cut waste, Democrats want to protect social programs, and Trump wants a bigger military. Whether Congress will actually pass more rescission packages remains to be seen, but Paul is making sure the conversation stays alive.