Illustration: Natalie Peeples / Axios
The rescissions package the White House sent Congress on Tuesday calls for deleting $900 million for global health programs — including PEPFAR, which is causing heartburn for some Republicans.
Why it matters: Public health experts warn that the cuts would restrict access to lifesaving treatments and hinder U.S. soft diplomacy.
- The State Department–run HIV/AIDS program is still operating even though it hasn't been officially reauthorized, but it's limited and doesn't cover many HIV prevention efforts.
What's inside: The $9.4 billion rescissions package identified $900 million in DOGE-directed cuts to State Department and USAID global health programs for Congress to codify.
- The document OMB sent to the Hill calls for eliminating $500 million for USAID programs related to child and maternal health, HIV/AIDS and infectious diseases.
- It states that the proposal "would not reduce treatment but would eliminate programs that are antithetical to American interests and worsen the lives of women and children, like 'family planning' and 'reproductive health.'"
- An additional $400 million would be rescinded for controlling HIV/AIDS, which includes PEPFAR.
What they're saying: Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins told reporters Tuesday that she wouldn't support a package that cuts PEPFAR.
- The program "has saved literally millions of lives and has been extremely effective and well-run," Collins said.
- She referred to it as a legacy program of former President George W. Bush.
But House Foreign Affairs Chair Brian Mast told Axios on Tuesday that there was "a lot of pretty specific waste within PEPFAR" and that this rescissions package would make it "a better program."
- House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole also said that although he was "worried about PEPFAR," he was going to support the rescissions package, adding, "I think most of our members will.… I don't think it will have a hard time passing."
What's next: House GOP leadership said in a statement Tuesday that a floor vote is planned next week.
- Congress has 45 days to act on the package, and it needs only a simple majority for passage in the Senate.
