US Policies Undermine Global HIV Prevention and Treatment Efforts
WHO:
AP News - Trump administration, amfAR (The Foundation for AIDS Research), Elise Lankiewicz (policy associate), Ramona Godbole (author of a study), Jennifer Sherwood (amfAR’s director of research and public policy).
WHAT:
Al Jazeera - PEPFAR-supported treatment reached about 77,000 fewer children in 2025, representing a 14% drop.
Al Jazeera - The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) warned that if the cuts became permanent, the world could see 6.6 million more HIV infections and 4.2 million more AIDS deaths by 2029.
Al Jazeera - UNAIDS lost about 25% of its funding last year.
AP News - The report indicates that most organizations had at least one award terminated or payment delayed last year, leading to the closure of more than 1,700 clinics and the loss of over 16,000 full-time staff members.
AP News - The report states that HIV prevention spending fell 51% from fiscal years 2024 to 2025.
AP News - PEPFAR-supported programs provided standard HIV treatment for 20.6 million people in more than 50 countries during the quarter of July through September 2025, which is stable from the same reporting period in 2024.
AP News - PEPFAR started 103,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women on PrEP in 2025, up from 43,000 the previous year.
AP News - The Trump administration’s disruptions to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) have forced organizations to close clinics, lay off staff, and cut services.
AP News - PEPFAR is credited with saving at least 26 million lives since its inception in 2003.
AP News - More than 1,700 clinics, drop-in centers, and other service delivery sites were closed due to funding terminations.
AP News - More than 16,000 full-time staff members were lost as a result of funding disruptions.
AP News - Prevention spending fell 51% from fiscal years 2024 to 2025.
AP News - Nearly two million fewer people living with HIV were receiving PEPFAR-supported antiretroviral treatment in fiscal year 2025 compared to the previous fiscal year, representing about a 10% decline.
WHERE:
AP News - The disruptions affected organizations in 46 countries, with a majority of responses coming from African countries.
WHEN:
AP News - The report was released on a Tuesday.
AP News - The survey was conducted between last November and April.
AP News - PEPFAR data for one quarter in 2025 was released for the period of July through September.
WHY:
AP News - The report highlights that cuts were concentrated on services for populations most impacted by HIV, with many organizations reporting the permanent ending of services for key populations.
AP News - The disruptions were attributed to the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development and cuts to thousands of global health grants.
AP News - Cuts were concentrated on services for populations most impacted by HIV, including sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender people, and people who inject drugs.
HOW:
AP News - The survey conducted by researchers received responses from 166 groups from 46 countries, providing insights into their funding, staff, and services.
AP News - Researchers contacted groups that received PEPFAR funding to deliver HIV services and conducted an electronic survey.
AP News - The survey received responses from 166 groups.
(UPDATED July 22, 2026 07:49 UTC)
PEPFAR-supported treatment reached approximately 77,000 fewer children in 2025, marking a significant 14% decline. The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, or UNAIDS, has issued a stark warning that if these funding cuts become permanent, the world could face an alarming increase of 6.6 million new HIV infections and 4.2 million additional AIDS-related deaths by 2029. This comes on the heels of UNAIDS losing about 25% of its funding last year, raising concerns about the future of global health initiatives.
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(UPDATED July 22, 2026 06:49 UTC)
A recent report reveals that last year, many organizations experienced at least one award termination or payment delay, resulting in the closure of over 1,700 clinics and the loss of more than 16,000 full-time staff members. The report also highlights a significant drop in HIV prevention spending, which fell by 51% from fiscal years 2024 to 2025, while PEPFAR-supported programs managed to provide standard HIV treatment for 20.6 million people across more than 50 countries during the quarter of July through September 2025. Additionally, PEPFAR initiated PrEP for 103,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women in 2025, a notable increase from 43,000 the previous year, despite cuts to services that primarily affected populations most impacted by HIV.
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(UPDATED July 22, 2026 05:57 UTC)
The Trump administration's disruptions to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, have led to the closure of over 1,700 clinics and the loss of more than 16,000 full-time staff members across 46 countries, primarily in Africa. A recent report highlights that prevention spending dropped by 51% from fiscal years 2024 to 2025, resulting in nearly two million fewer people receiving PEPFAR-supported antiretroviral treatment, a decline of about 10%. These funding cuts, attributed to the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development, have particularly impacted services for the populations most affected by HIV, including sex workers and transgender individuals.