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Members and witnesses press to restore foreign aid programs and strengthen oversight amid proposed cuts
Summary
Members and witnesses at a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing criticized recent cuts to USAID and humanitarian programs, urged restoration of PEPFAR and other global health funding, and called for stronger oversight of State and USAID implementation.
Members of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State and Related Programs and several testifying lawmakers urged restoring cuts to foreign assistance and increasing congressional oversight during the FY27 Member Day hearing.
Ranking Member Lois Frankel said recent reductions had "dismantled USAID," removing staff and programs, and argued that foreign assistance remains a strategic investment. "With less than 1% of our federal budget, [foreign assistance] greatly advances our own security and prosperity," Frankel said, urging bipartisan work to restore core programs.
Mr. Jackson, who identified himself in testimony as a legislator, delivered a longer appeal against the bill’s cuts, calling it "a bad bill" and warning that cutting programs such as PEPFAR and the Global Fund would "deny medicine to those living with HIV and AIDS" and undermine U.S. moral and strategic leadership. "When we cut these programs, we do not simply balance a ledger. We are breaking a promise," Jackson said.
A committee member from New Mexico recounted global instability and characterized recent military action as costing "more than $1 billion a day," saying the first week cost "$11 billion" (statements attributed to the member during testimony). He called for restoring USAID programs, protecting UN humanitarian agencies including UNRWA, and pursuing oversight into recent executive actions and handling of Venezuelan oil and financial transactions.
Committee leaders said the subcommittee had sought to preserve key programs where possible and noted earlier work to secure robust PEPFAR funding; they also stressed continued oversight and further hearings. The Member Day hearing did not produce votes or formal legislative text; members said their remarks and witnesses’ written statements would be entered into the record and used as the subcommittee develops FY27 appropriations language.
