Republican Rep. Pledges to Oppose Trump-Backed Rescissions Measure Over AIDS Relief Funding Cut

As debate intensifies over the proposed federal rescission package, Nebraska Congressman Don Bacon has emerged as a vocal holdout, signaling he will not back any legislation that significantly reduces funding for AIDS relief programs. Bacon, known for occasionally diverging from his party and President Donald Trump, has drawn a clear line when it comes to the potential gutting of The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), describing the initiative as a "noble program that America can be proud of funding."

The Trump administration’s rescission proposal aims to claw back millions of dollars from global health programs, with a specific recommendation to rescind $400 million from PEPFAR. The administration argues the targeted cuts eliminate "wasteful programming" and will not impact life-saving medical treatment or essential services for current patients. Despite these assurances, Bacon remains skeptical and has told party leaders, "I’m a no," unless he receives concrete information confirming the core functions of PEPFAR will remain untouched.

"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," Bacon stated, reiterating his commitment to ensuring critical medicine and services are protected. While acknowledging he has been told by officials that only certain areas of the program may face reductions, Bacon emphasized, "If PEPFAR is gutted, I am a no. But I’m told that only parts of the program will be cut. I’ll need more details."

Administration officials maintain that the proposed rescission "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." Still, the plan faces scrutiny from lawmakers like Bacon, who see PEPFAR as a cornerstone of bipartisan global health policy and American leadership abroad.

Bacon’s independent streak has not gone unnoticed in Washington. He was the lone House Republican to oppose a recent measure to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, dismissing it as "dumb." He explained, "That’s what people told me — they said, ‘It’s so dumb; just vote for it.’ That argument didn’t work on me."

The congressman acknowledged pressure from House leaders to curb his public criticism of President Trump, who remains influential within the Republican Party. However, Bacon insists he will only push back when he believes fundamental party values are at stake. "You can’t be anti-everything. I like what the president has done on the border, so I have no problem with that," Bacon remarked.

For Bacon, the stakes are not just political but philosophical. "I’d like to fight for the soul of our party," he said, expressing concern about what he sees as a trend of uncritical allegiance. "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."

Elected to the House of Representatives in 2017, Bacon has established himself as an advocate for principled conservatism and pragmatic policy, particularly in areas with humanitarian impact. His openness to break ranks with party leadership underscores the evolving dynamics within the Republican caucus as Congress grapples with contentious budget decisions and debates over America’s role in global health initiatives.