GOP Rep. Don Bacon says he won’t back Trump’s budget plan if it slashes global AIDS relief program PEPFAR.

Republican Lawmaker Warns Against Undermining Global Health Initiative

Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska has declared he will not support President Donald Trump’s proposed rescissions package if it includes deep cuts to a major global health program aimed at combating AIDS. The move places the congressman at odds with his party as the administration seeks to scale back federal spending through targeted rollbacks.

“I told them I’m a no,” Bacon stated, referring to the proposed budget measure. “We want to prevent AIDS, it’s a noble program, it’s George Bush’s legacy.” His remarks, originally reported by the New York Times, reflect a firm stance on preserving the integrity of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

Launched during the George W. Bush administration, PEPFAR provides billions of dollars annually in bilateral assistance to countries struggling with the HIV/AIDS epidemic. According to administration sources, the rescission package proposes cutting $400 million from the program’s $4.4 billion annual budget.

A White House official defended the proposed reduction, saying it targets “wasteful programming that does not serve the American taxpayer,” and stressed that the cuts would not affect core life-saving services. “The package does NOT rescind any life-saving assistance,” the official said, emphasizing that funding for medicine, delivery systems, and treatment continuity will be preserved.

Bacon, however, remains unconvinced and is seeking further clarification. “If PEPFAR is gutted, I am a no,” he reiterated. “But I’m told that only parts of the program will be cut. I’ll need more details.”

Defying Party Pressure

This is not the first time Bacon has gone against the grain of the Republican Party. He was the only GOP representative to oppose a measure to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. “I thought it was dumb,” he said. “People told me, ‘It’s so dumb; just vote for it.’ That argument didn’t work on me.”

Bacon’s independent streak has drawn criticism from within his ranks. According to reports, House leaders have urged him to be less vocal, with one message summarized as telling him to “quit kicking President Trump in the nuts.” Despite the pressure, Bacon maintains he will speak out when he believes it matters.

“You can’t be anti-everything,” he noted, expressing support for Trump’s immigration policies. “I like what the president has done on the border, so I have no problem with that.”

Ultimately, Bacon sees his role as shaping the direction of his party, not blindly following its leaders. “I’d like to fight for the soul of our party,” he said. “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 has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2017, representing Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District. His continued pushback against party orthodoxy is likely to resonate as fiscal debates intensify ahead of further legislative action on the rescission bill.