A proposal to cut $400 million from the US-funded HIV/Aids programme Pepfar has been dropped by Senate Republicans, offering a temporary relief for the global health initiative as broader government spending cuts move forward.

The decision comes as part of an amendment to a rescission bill that seeks to cancel $9 billion in previously approved funds.

The shift followed strong pushback from lawmakers across both parties who were concerned about the potential impact of cutting the President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief, which has saved millions of lives since its launch under George W Bush.

The funding reversal now awaits final approval as the bill returns to the House of Representatives ahead of a looming Friday deadline.

Despite the move to preserve Pepfar’s budget, the rescission package still proposes deep cuts in other areas, including funding for international aid and public broadcasting services like NPR and PBS.

The White House has backed the changes to the bill, with Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought confirming that President Donald Trump is prepared to sign the amended version.

John Thune, the Senate Republican leader, said there had been a “lot of interest” in keeping Pepfar funding untouched, reflecting widespread concern among senators.

Senator Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine who had opposed the original bill, told reporters after a White House meeting, “I’m very pleased” that the cuts would be removed. However, she did not confirm whether the amendment was enough to secure her full support.

The decision to spare Pepfar comes amid a broader push by Trump during his second term to slash government spending.

The bill targets unspent funds and focuses heavily on the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which has recently been shut down under Trump’s direction.

Pepfar has played a central role in fighting HIV across the globe, especially in Africa, where cuts had already begun to affect services. Clinics in South Africa and other countries have faced shortages of medicine and support due to earlier funding reductions.

Professor Helen Rees, an expert on HIV and sexual health at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, welcomed the Senate move. “This is very good news,” she told the BBC. “It's obviously not replacing the totality of what Pepfar was providing but nonetheless it indicates a softening of the views in the US and the importance to the members of the Senate of the Pepfar programme in terms of lives saved.”

She added that the sudden drop in funding had posed “a huge threat to the lives of many people, particularly in lower-income countries and particularly in Africa.”

While Pepfar may be safe for now, the broader bill continues to attract criticism over its impact on other forms of humanitarian support and global partnerships. With final negotiations still underway, the future of several major US-backed programmes remains uncertain.