Republican Congressman Opposes Trump-Backed Rescissions Measure, Signaling Divisions in Party

As the Trump administration and congressional Republicans push forward with a highly debated rescission proposal aimed at slashing federal spending, Republican Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska has emerged as a notable voice of dissent within his party. Bacon, known for occasionally breaking ranks with the GOP and President Donald Trump, recently stated his firm opposition to the proposed package, which includes significant cuts to global health initiatives.

At the heart of the controversy is a plan to claw back millions in funding, including a targeted $400 million reduction to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The program, which was launched under George W. Bush and enjoys bipartisan praise for its role in combating HIV/AIDS across the globe, currently receives an annual allocation of approximately $4.4 billion. Yet, the White House maintains that the rescission targets "wasteful programming" and does not jeopardize ongoing life-saving assistance. "The package does NOT rescind any life-saving assistance and in fact, continues to make available billions of resources to implement life-saving medicine," a White House official said Monday, emphasizing that all individuals currently receiving treatment would continue to do so.

Rep. Bacon, however, remains unconvinced. "I told them I’m a no," he reportedly informed congressional leaders. "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." Bacon reiterated his support for PEPFAR on social media, describing it as "a noble program that America can be proud of funding." His stance places him at odds not only with the administration but with many in his own party pushing for deeper budget cuts as fiscal conservatives and influential voices outside Congress, such as Elon Musk, demand stricter spending reductions.

Bacon’s independent streak is not limited to the current spending debate. He has previously bucked GOP leadership, most notably as the sole House Republican to vote against a measure to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America, dismissing the bill as "dumb" and refusing to support it simply out of party loyalty. "That argument didn’t work on me," he said bluntly when pressed for his reasoning.

Despite calls from party leaders to moderate his criticism—one advising him to "quit kicking President Trump in the nuts," according to Bacon—the Nebraska congressman insists he will speak out when principles are on the line. "You can’t be anti-everything," Bacon noted, acknowledging areas where he agrees with Trump, such as border policy, while maintaining his willingness to challenge the party elsewhere. "I’d like to fight for the soul of our party," he stated. "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, who has served in the House of Representatives since 2017, continues to carve out space as an independent-minded Republican, even as the party faces internal divides over spending, foreign policy, and the direction of the GOP itself. As the rescission proposal advances, all eyes remain on lawmakers like Bacon who are willing to defy party lines for the sake of their convictions—and, in this case, the legacy of a landmark global health program.