The HIV/AIDS pandemic has been on the brink of defeat – until now. A devastating report on the impact of US funding cuts to anti-HIV programmes threatens to undo decades of progress. The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Pepfar), launched in 2003, has saved over 26 million lives since its inception, but recent disruptions have brought a significant number of clinics to a standstill and left thousands of staff without jobs.
A study by the AIDS research foundation Amfar, based on data from 166 organisations across 46 countries due to receive Pepfar funding in 2025, reveals that over half of these groups had their grants terminated. The closure of more than 1,700 clinics and drop-in centres has left a gaping hole in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. A staggering 16,000 full-time staff lost their positions, with prevention services particularly hard hit.
The abrupt withdrawal of many Pepfar grants in 2025, following the dissolution of USAID in July, created widespread instability. Although a waiver allowed programmes providing life-saving treatment and mother-to-child HIV transmission prevention to continue, nearly two-thirds of organisations focused on preventing mother-to-child transmission reported disruptions, with one-fifth ceasing services entirely.
Furthermore, organisations receiving US support are being compelled to modify their operations in line with the Trump administration's broader policy agenda. This includes compliance with anti-diversity and inclusion executive orders and an expanded 'global gag rule', restricting reproductive rights and gender-affirming care. The shift in programming has led to services tailored to vulnerable populations, such as sex workers and victims of gender-based violence, being terminated.
The UK will be closely monitoring the situation, given its significant role in international development and health initiatives. British taxpayers' contributions to global health projects have been instrumental in driving progress against HIV/AIDS. The devastating impact of these funding cuts poses a stark challenge to the global community's ability to combat this pandemic.