George W. Bush advocates for PEPFAR amidst reauthorization uncertainty
Former President George W. Bush is getting involved in the fight to save the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a global HIV-AIDS program set to expire on September 30. House and Senate Republicans are working on a bill to extend the program, despite opposition from anti-abortion and conservative groups. Bush, who helped create PEPFAR in 2003, has been reaching out to GOP members to defend the program. Reauthorization is in jeopardy as some Republicans and advocacy groups claim that PEPFAR funds flow to abortion providers, a claim that is denied by Bush, President Biden's administration, and program leaders. Without reauthorization, the program's long-term projects and staff hiring will be affected.