Too often, global moments are measured by lives lost — conflicts, pandemics, natural disasters. The creation of effective, accountable and life-saving programs like PEPFAR, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and Gavi brought us an era that could be measured by lives saved — lives that have now been suddenly sidelined in the name of removing a small fraction (less than 1%) of the federal budget.
The White House’s full budget request for fiscal year 2026 proposes excessive cuts to U.S. aid programs that would threaten America’s national interests and international leadership. A later attempt, due to rescissions, to take away previously appropriated funding for life-saving health programs and development initiatives would make these cuts even worse.
Take, for example, U.S. investments in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief — PEPFAR — has helped save 26 million lives. It’s an impressive achievement, yes, but we shouldn’t reduce these lives to just a statistic. These are children who get to grow up healthy, and parents who get to watch them do so.
The White House’s proposed rescissions package would reduce them even .f.urther — to 11 vague sentences that seek, without justification, to cut nearly $1 billion from health and infectious disease funding. When lives hang in the balance, Congress — and the American people — need real details.
That’s why I urge Rep. Chris Deluzio and his fellow members of Congress to reject rushed attempts to override their previous decisions and to continue supporting smart, effective aid programs.
Jordan Hinds
McKees Rocks