US Senators Protect HIV/Aids Funding from Budget Cuts

US senators have decided to exempt HIV/Aids funding from planned spending cuts. Earlier this year, protesters in Washington protested cuts to US HIV/Aids funding by placing empty coffins in the street. If the Pepfar amendment is approved, the bill will return to the House of Representatives for another vote before a Friday deadline.

The proposal was part of a Senate amendment to a rescissions package, which allows lawmakers to cancel previously approved funding. The planned cancellations also target funds for international aid and public broadcasting. Senators have agreed to spare $400m (£300m) from the President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief programme, reducing the total proposed cuts to $9bn.

Republicans in the US Senate have chosen to protect the US-backed HIV/Aids programme Pepfar from cuts as part of an effort to reduce government spending. Several senators from both parties expressed concerns about cutting Pepfar, which has been instrumental in saving millions of lives globally, especially in Africa.

The Republican-controlled Senate can only afford a few defectors, assuming all Democrats vote against the cuts. Senator Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, expressed satisfaction with the decision to remove the cuts after a White House meeting.

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought confirmed that the White House supports the Senate amendment, indicating President Donald Trump's willingness to sign it. Trump's administration has been actively reducing government spending, with most cuts in the rescission bill aimed at reclaiming funds earmarked for USAID.

Prof Helen Rees, an expert in HIV and vaccine-preventable diseases at the University of the Witwatersrand, welcomed the decision. She stated that while it may not fully replace Pepfar's contributions, it shows a positive shift in US views on the importance of the programme in saving lives, especially in lower-income countries and Africa.

Other cuts in the rescission bill target funding for public broadcasters NPR and PBS.

According to the source: BBC.