US funding cuts cripple global HIV treatment, report finds

A new report from amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research, reveals that funding cuts by the Trump administration to PEPFAR have caused widespread disruptions, forcing the closure of more than 1,700 clinics and loss of over 16,000 staff across 46 countries Source: AP News. The survey of 166 organizations found that nearly a quarter of respondents had awards terminated or delayed, severely impacting HIV prevention and treatment services Source: The Guardian.

Key findings

• Prevention services were hit hardest, with a 51% drop in spending from 2024 to 2025 Source: AP News.
• Services for key populations—sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender people, and people who inject drugs—were most likely to be permanently ended Source: The Guardian.
• Even programs for preventing mother-to-child transmission saw disruption, with 20% ending entirely Source: Al Jazeera.

Disagreements

While the US Department of State claims PEPFAR has grown "stronger" and points to steady treatment numbers in one quarter of 2025, researchers argue the snapshot hides a larger decline visible in full-year data Source: Al Jazeera. The report warns that if cuts persist, UNAIDS projects 6.6 million more HIV infections and 4.2 million more AIDS deaths by 2029 Source: Al Jazeera.