The U.S. government, under an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump, has suspended funding for HIV treatment programs in Nigeria and other developing nations.
The freeze affects the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a global initiative supporting HIV/AIDS treatment in Africa and other regions, and will last at least 90 days.
The directive, issued on Trump’s first day in office, instructed U.S. agencies overseeing foreign development aid to halt disbursements. As a result, nearly all U.S. global health funding, including PEPFAR’s $6.5 billion annual budget, was immediately stopped. PEPFAR has been instrumental in providing HIV/AIDS treatment to over 20.6 million people globally, saving an estimated 26 million lives since its launch.
According to the U.S. State Department, the halt is part of a broader policy shift to prioritize programs delivering tangible benefits to American taxpayers. A statement from the agency noted, “The United States is no longer going to blindly dole out money with no return for the American people.”
Public health experts, however, warn that the suspension could escalate the HIV/AIDS crisis in affected regions if operations remain stalled or the program is permanently terminated. Despite these concerns, some are optimistic that Marco Rubio’s appointment as Secretary of State could safeguard PEPFAR, given his previous support for the initiative.
As the suspension takes effect, millions relying on U.S. aid for lifesaving treatment face uncertainty, with experts urging for exemptions to ensure continuity in combating the global HIV/AIDS epidemic.
