1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

I’m writing to urge your office to take immediate action to ensure that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) releases the full $6.045 billion in Congressionally approved PEPFAR funding, and that the State Department releases the approved $1.25 billion for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. PEPFAR is a long-standing, bipartisan global health program that has saved over 25 million lives. As of September 9th, OMB has apportioned only $3.135 billion out of the $6.045 billion in appropriated funds to agencies. By unprecedentedly withholding half of the funding, OMB is forcing 30- 50% cuts to PEPFAR-supported programs, threatening access to life-saving HIV treatment and prevention. Similarly, the administration is withholding funding from the Global Fund, the partnership that has saved more than 70 million lives since 2002. Congress appropriated necessary funding in FY24 and FY25, fulfilling the U.S. pledge and unlocking $2.5 billion in matching contributions from other donors under the longstanding 1:2 matching agreement. However, the State Department has yet to release the matched $1.25 billion in funding, causing countries to face an average 10% reduction in support during the remainder of the 7th Replenishment Cycle (2023–2025). Withholding these life-saving funds not only puts millions of lives at risk but also undermines Congress’s constitutional authority over federal spending and damages trust in U.S. global leadership. I urge your office to contact OMB and the State Department to ensure the immediate release of fully appropriated funding for both PEPFAR and the Global Fund.