Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) on Friday called on the Trump administration to release $1.3 billion in global health funding before it expires on Wednesday, September 30. In a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, OMB Director Russell Vought, and USAID official Eric Ueland, Collins stated the funds must be spent as intended by Congress for the 2025 fiscal year.
The request follows a decision by the administration to shutter the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Collins, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, stated that the $1.3 billion was specifically appropriated to combat maternal and child health issues and infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. She expressed concern that the funds might expire or be redirected toward "unknown closeout costs" related to the agency's closure.
Democratic senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) issued a similar warning earlier in the week. They reported that the administration is diverting more than $2 billion in foreign aid to fund the agency’s shutdown, including the $1.3 billion for health programs and $1.2 billion for development assistance. The Democrats further alleged the administration plans to let $725 million in other funds expire, affecting programs related to narcotics trade, human trafficking, and supply chain security.
The scale of the funding shift totals more than $2 billion that is being moved from its original legislative purpose to cover the administrative costs of closing USAID. For the programs losing this support, the impact represents a total cessation of the specific 2025 fiscal year investments approved by Congress. Senators Murray and Schatz stated that the administration is treating the appropriated funds as a "checkbook" rather than following the law passed by Congress to invest in life-saving measures.
The next critical deadline is Wednesday, September 30, 2026, which marks the end of the fiscal year. Any funds not obligated or transferred by this date will expire. While Sen. Collins has urged the administration to either spend the money or transfer it to the State Department for its original purpose, the Office of Management and Budget has not yet responded to inquiries regarding its final plans for the remaining $1.3 billion.