They responded to same day as the article was released, and apparently they told the Times' author this was not true when they called them for comment, but the Times went with the story anyway.
Tucker Carlson mentioned the funding cuts on Tuesday and again on Thursday.
I scan dozens of news headlines every day and never saw any GOP counter punch.
The Fox article you posted says the GOP refuted on Twitter.
Since Twitter is the official Club House for RINOs and the Political Left, I am thinking that very few Conservatives know about this.