Susan Collins

The president's comment on social media came two weeks after the Maine Republican opposed his administration's bill to rescind $9 billion that had already been approved by Congress.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, who chairs the committee, also highlighted senators' decision to fund several programs for low-income households and students. But Democrats on the committee criticized aspects of the budget bills, including the omission of funding for public broadcasting.

The Republican said the Trump administration has failed to provide critical details about the cuts. But the bill advanced anyway.

Ruby Whitmore of Old Town was one of several young people with Type 1 diabetes who shared their experiences with members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which is reviewing the Trump administration's proposed cuts to research programs.

Sen. Susan Collins cast a pivotal vote in pushing Trump's "big beautiful bill" past a key procedural hurdle step over the weekend but said Monday that changes to Medicaid are "problematic."

The Democratic governor laid out her concerns in a letter to the state's congressional delegation this week as the Senate continues work on the bill, which contains key aspects of President Trump's domestic agenda.

Wednesday's hearing was the first opportunity for members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which Collins leads, to question Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought about more than $9 billion that Trump wants to claw back from programs.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Democratic Rep. Jared Golden expressed support for the airstrikes. Independent Sen. Angus King called them important yet "potentially dangerous" while Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree said they were reckless and unconstitutional.

The two senators spoke during committee hearings where Cabinet secretaries fielded a variety of questions about the president's cost-cutting measures and policy priorities.

The Maine Republican, who is chairwoman of the budget-writing Senate Appropriations Committee, said the panel would hold an aggressive schedule of hearings on the White House's plan to cut more than $160 billion from federal programs.