‘I will not support a cut in PEPFAR’: Susan Collins draws line in sand as Trump’s $9.3 billion cuts face Senate rebellion

A House-approved rescissions bill targeting $9.3 billion in spending cuts, including $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and $8.3 billion in foreign aid, is encountering significant resistance in the Senate as Republicans navigate competing priorities with limited room for error.

According to MSNBC, the bill, which narrowly passed the House with a 214-212 vote, follows the Impoundment Control Act of 1974’s special process. This law requires presidential recommendations for spending cuts to receive congressional approval within 45 days, or the administration must proceed with the allocated spending.

Senator Susan Collins of Maine, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, has voiced strong opposition to the proposed cuts in HIV/AIDS funding. “I will not support a cut in PEPFAR, which is a program that has saved literally millions of lives and has been extremely effective and well-run,” Collins told reporters. The White House has attempted to address these concerns by stating that while HIV/AIDS treatment would continue, prevention programs would face cuts.

Senate majority faces uphill battle to secure needed votes

With Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who has previously sparked outrage over healthcare comments, needing a simple majority to pass the bill, the path forward appears increasingly challenging. Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska has already joined Collins in opposition, specifically citing concerns about cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and its impact on local programming and emergency alert systems in Alaska.

The White House’s proposal seeks to rescind $1.1 billion in Global Health Programs funding at the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development, including the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). This program, launched under President George W. Bush, has been widely recognized for its effectiveness in combating HIV/AIDS globally.

Several other Republican senators have expressed reservations about the bill. Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi questions the timing of the package, while Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky believes the cuts are insufficient to impact overall spending. Former GOP caucus leader Senator Mitch McConnell’s known support for foreign aid and USAID makes his position uncertain.

If Congress rejects the package, the administration cannot request the same cuts again this fiscal year under the Impoundment Control Act. The White House has indicated it might continue withholding funds regardless of congressional action, a move that would violate federal law and add to Trump’s growing list of legal controversies. While moderate Republicans have historically aligned with party leadership under pressure, the passage of these cuts would represent a complex moment for Senate Republicans, potentially compromising global health initiatives in exchange for political expediency.