The White House has agreed to keep funding AIDS treatments in foreign countries after pushback in Congress.
President Trump’s budget director, Russ Vought, said the administration is fine with the Senate’s amended $9 billion rescissions package.
The amendment removes cuts to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which President George W. Bush established.
“America remains the most generous country in the world because President Trump has a humanitarian heart, and we urge other nations to dramatically increase their humanitarian efforts,” a senior official told Breitbart News.
PEPFAR has long enjoyed bipartisan backing, with supporters crediting it with saving millions of lives in developing countries.
Trump has effectively dismantled America’s foreign aid organization, USAID, which is mainly responsible for managing PEPFAR.
The Trump administration pushed for $400 million in cuts to PEPFAR in a rescissions package, which, if approved, would cancel billions in spending that Congress authorized in the past, including funding for left-leaning public broadcasters like NPR.
During a congressional hearing in June, Vought, a budget hardliner, said the administration expected Africa to take on a larger burden with HIV/AIDS prevention.
“It is something that our budget will be very trim on because we believe that many of these nonprofits are not geared toward the viewpoints of the administration, and we’re $37 trillion in debt,” Vought said.
“So, at some point, the continent of Africa needs to absorb more of the burden of providing this health care.”
The administration’s PEPFAR plans faced backlash from some Republicans, leading to a compromise.
Vought argues the bill is “substantially the same package,” and indeed, it still totals roughly $9 billion in funding cuts.
The administration also downplayed its reversal and dismissed the suggestion that Trump planned to take away life-saving care from anyone.
The State Department issued a “limited waiver” in February that allowed “life-saving” HIV services to continue despite Trump’s pause on foreign aid.
“PEPFAR continues to support lifesaving HIV testing, care and treatment, and prevention of mother-to-child transmission services approved by the Secretary of State,” the administration official told Breitbart.
“An estimated 86 percent of beneficiaries could be receiving lifesaving treatment and prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) services based on the full operational capacity of all active awards.”
The rescissions package advanced Tuesday, with Vice President J.D. Vance breaking a tie in the Senate.
READ MORE – Bombshell Study: Covid Shots Triggered VAIDS Spike in Children
Our comment section is restricted to members of the Slay News community only.
To join, create a free account HERE.
If you are already a member, log in HERE.