Global research: U.S. Freeze on HIV Funding Threatens Lives of Hundreds of Thousands

Last updated on: 19 February 2025

Global survey reveals devastating impact on HIV response organisations

The recent decision by the U.S. government to halt the PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) program for 90 days has catastrophic consequences for the global HIV response. To assess the impact of this crisis, Aidsfonds, GNP+, and the Robert Carr Fund conducted a survey among organisations and networks directly involved in HIV prevention and treatment. The results are alarming: 95% of respondents report being directly affected by these measures. More than half (57%) of the organisations estimate that this crisis will impact more than a million people.

The decision by President Trump to freeze HIV funds has catastrophic consequences

63% of the organisations we work with report that they are already unable to provide the same level of service as before. Pregnant women are being turned away from clinics that prevent vertical transmission. There are also reports of children with HIV no longer receiving their medication. The longer these disruptions persist, the greater the risk of a new generation of preventable HIV infections. This threatens to undo the hard-earned progress in reducing new infections in newborns,” said Mark Vermeulen, director of Aidsfonds.

Key findings from the survey

• 69% of organisations reporting service disruptions indicate that it specifically affects the distribution of HIV treatment medication
• Among respondents reporting financial instability due to the funding freeze, a staggering 82% cite direct budget cuts significantly impacting their work
• 43% of organisations report a partial or complete shutdown of their programs
• 62% of organisations experiencing staffing challenges face direct layoffs of employees
• 22% of organisations report an increase in discrimination against groups in a vulnerable position
• 57% of respondents estimate that the crisis will affect more than 1 million people
• 40% see a direct increased risk of new HIV infections due to the suspension of prevention programs

Major uncertainty

The Trump administration has issued a 90-day stop-work order. requiring thousands of USAID workers to cease their activities and suspend life-saving aid. These professionals cannot be easily replaced. Organisations also warn that once the order is lifted, significant effort will be required to bring people back to clinics and resume treatment. The consequences of this interruption will be felt for a long time and threaten to undo decades of progress in the HIV response.

 

Download the survey results