PEPFAR funding exempt from Trump's cuts to foreign aid

THE US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the global program to fight HIV/AIDS, has been exempt from President Donald Trump's request to slash billions in spending on foreign aid and public broadcasting previously approved by Congress.

- REUTERS

This comes after objections from lawmakers in both Republican and Democrat parties, bringing the size of the package of cuts to $9 billion from $9.4 billion.

Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, told reporters after lunch with Republican senators that Trump could accept a change in the measure to exempt PEPFAR.

"There is a substitute amendment that does not include the PEPFAR rescission and we're fine with that," Vought said.