Senator John Cornyn of Texas has stated he will oppose the ambassadorial nominations of Kari Lake and Doug Mastriano unless the Trump administration releases funds for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). In an interview with Semafor, Cornyn indicated he would not support committee action on the nominations scheduled for discussion on Wednesday without confirmation that the administration will allocate the necessary funds.
Cornyn emphasized the importance of using his voting power to address funding issues, stating, "The only way it seems like you can get the administration’s attention on some of these funding issues is by using the leverage to withhold votes on nominees." He noted that he could potentially stall both nominations in the Foreign Relations Committee, which consists of 12 Republicans and 10 Democrats.
If the nominees pass the committee but his concerns remain unaddressed, Cornyn plans to vote against them on the Senate floor. Both Lake and Mastriano are known allies of Trump, having lost gubernatorial races in 2022. Cornyn has previously leveraged his voting power to influence funding decisions, including a recent GOP spending bill.
He has communicated his intentions regarding the nominations to Senate Foreign Relations Chair Jim Risch. The administration has not yet responded to his statements. PEPFAR, initiated under former President George W. Bush, has historically received bipartisan support, and Cornyn highlighted its significance in maintaining U.S. influence in Africa amidst competition from Russia and China.
He estimates that approximately $1.3 billion is available for immediate release and seeks clarity on the $10 billion allocated to the program over the last two years. Cornyn noted the dual importance of the funding for humanitarian reasons and U.S. foreign relations, stating, "This is one of the really important elements of our soft power too, because America needs friends in Africa."
PEPFAR has encountered challenges since the beginning of the second Trump administration, with reports of funding disruptions and program terminations affecting treatment efforts, particularly in South Africa, which has a significant population living with HIV.