Republican Rep. Don Bacon has publicly stated he will oppose a proposed rescission measure backed by President Donald Trump that would cut funding for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The measure, which seeks to rescind $400 million from the $4.4 billion annual program, has drawn criticism from Bacon, who described PEPFAR as a crucial and noble initiative. Bacon, known for his willingness to challenge the administration, emphasized the importance of preserving the program, which he called a ‘legacy’ of former President George W. Bush. The White House has defended the rescission as necessary to eliminate wasteful spending, but Bacon has stated he will not support the measure if it harms the program’s funding.
As the Trump administration and congressional Republicans eye passage of a rescission proposal, Rep. Don Bacon, a Nebraska Republican who doesn’t shy away from bucking President Donald Trump, has indicated that he won’t support it if it guts an AIDS relief program. The president’s proposed clawbacks include millions of dollars pertaining to global health programs. Bacon told the New York Times that he has indicated he’s ‘a no’ on the rescission measure, saying, ‘I just want to make sure we’re funding the medicine. We want to prevent AIDS, it’s a noble program, it’s George Bush’s legacy. I put the marker out there; we’ll see.’
In a post on X last week, Bacon described PEPFAR as ‘a noble program that America can be proud of funding.’ However, in a statement to Fox News Digital on Monday, Bacon clarified that he would only support the measure if the PEPFAR program is not gutted. ‘If PEPFAR is gutted, I am a no,’ he said. ‘But I’m told that only parts of the program will be cut. I’ll need more details.’ The rescission package ‘proposes to rescind $400 million from the PEPFAR program, which is appropriated $4.4 billion annually to provide bilateral assistance to countries, many of which do not support American interests, such as South Africa,’ a White House official told Fox News on Monday.
The official asserted that the ‘package does NOT rescind any life-saving assistance and in fact, continues to make available billions of resources to implement life-saving medicine, medical services, as well as costs necessary to deliver these services to maintain all current individuals on treatment.’ Nevertheless, Bacon remains vocal in his opposition, stating that he will only support the measure if PEPFAR is not compromised. Bacon was the only House Republican to vote against a measure to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America, calling it ‘dumb.’ This stance has put him at odds with Republican leaders, who have pressed him to keep more of his views to himself, telling him to ‘quit kicking President Trump in the nuts.’ But Bacon indicated he would only press back when he believes it is needed.
‘You can’t be anti-everything,’ Bacon noted, ‘I like what the president has done on the border, so I have no problem with that.’ ‘I’d like to fight for the soul of our party,’ he said, ‘I don’t want to be the guy who follows the flute player off the cliff. I think that’s what’s going on right now.’ Bacon has served in the House of Representatives since 2017, and his recent actions have sparked both support and criticism within the party. The controversy highlights the growing divide within the Republican Party regarding the administration’s policies, particularly on issues of global health and spending priorities.