Global AIDS program PEPFAR saved from congressional funding cuts

Source: NPR

Updated July 15, 2025 3:36 PM ET


PEPFAR , the U.S. AIDS relief program begun by President George W Bush, has been saved from the $9.4 billion package of proposed funding cuts the Senate is considering, according to Senate Majority Leader John Thune. PEPFAR - The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief - supports HIV treatment worldwide and has been credited with saving millions of lives in its 22 years. PEPFAR was part of the foreign aid portion of the rescissions package the Trump administration sent to Congress.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting remains part of the package and stands to lose about $1.1 billion in funding. The administration will now use money from a Department of Interior program to fund 28 public radio stations serving Native American communities in 9 states, with grants going directly to the stations, according to Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD). Earlier, Senator Rounds had said 14 states and he has corrected the number. GOP leaders are planning the first procedural vote on the rescissions package for this evening.

The Senate has been moving to vote this week on the Trump administration's request to claw back federal funding for public media and foreign assistance programs.

The House approved the package last month in a largely party-line vote, but several GOP senators are pressing for changes in the $9.4 billion in spending cuts the Office of Management and Budget asked Congress to eliminate. Some proposed cuts could be scaled back or new parameters could be added by Congress for the way funds are distributed.

Read more: https://www.npr.org/2025/07/15/g-s1-77572/npr-pbs-funding-rescission-congress