The Big Story 

President Trump’s request to claw back billions in federal funding that’s already been apportioned by Congress could run into some hurdles as lawmakers waffle over a decades-old, bipartisan HIV program. 

© Greg Nash, The Hill

In his recissions request last month, Trump asked that $900 million be rescinded from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), considered one of former President George. W. Bush’s landmark accomplishments. 

Since it was launched in 2003, the program says it has saved 26 million lives and allowed for nearly 8 million babies to be born HIV-free. The program’s authorization lapsed in March this year, after having only received a one-year authorization when it had historically been reauthorized in five-year increments. 

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine.) told CBN News that she would not be voting for the recissions package due to the steep cuts to PEPFAR. 

“It’s hard to think of a more pro-life program than PEPFAR when you think about how many babies’ lives have been saved as a result,” said Collins. 

GOP appropriators on Capitol Hill say the program remains an ongoing topic of discussion while they’re still looking into the finer details of any potential changes to PEPFAR’s funding. 

Proponents of PEPFAR have called for the funds to remain untouched but acknowledged some changes may be warranted. 

“Rather than rescinding FY25 funds, these funds should be used to strengthen the data systems and independent community surveys that measure progress and trigger needed adjustments,” David J. Kramer, executive director of the George W. Bush Institute, said in a statement.

“Details on what exactly would be affected by the proposed rescissions remain unclear, but should they weaken the core mission of PEPFAR, or its ability to collect necessary data, they would place lives in danger and jeopardize the tremendous progress made over more than two decades,” he added. 

Welcome to The Hill’s Health Care newsletter, we’re Nathaniel Weixel, Joseph Choi and Alejandra O’Connell-Domenech — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health.

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