amfAR Finds Trump Cuts Shut 1,700 HIV Sites as PEPFAR Had Saved 26 Million Lives
Updated
Updated · PBS NewsHour · Jul 28
amfAR Finds Trump Cuts Shut 1,700 HIV Sites as PEPFAR Had Saved 26 Million Lives
3 articles · Updated · PBS NewsHour · Jul 28
Summary
More than 1,700 HIV treatment sites have closed worldwide after Trump administration cuts to USAID and PEPFAR, according to a new amfAR report based on 166 organizations in 46 countries.
The survey found deeper service breakdowns beyond clinic closures: 73% of groups serving vulnerable populations stopped at least one service, and 63% of programs preventing mother-to-child transmission reported disruptions.
Dr. Atul Gawande said the cuts are hitting testing, contact tracing and prevention hardest, warning that reduced outreach is the kind of damage that can fuel an HIV resurgence before it shows up fully in case counts.
He cited reports from 22 neonatal clinics in Africa showing a 50% jump in maternal HIV rates and a more than 300% rise in women arriving untreated, increasing the risk of babies being born with HIV.
The State Department disputed amfAR's methodology and said lifesaving care is still moving through other channels, but the report lands as delegates meet in Rio and as PEPFAR's 2030 end-AIDS goal looks increasingly out of reach.
As maternal HIV rates suddenly spike, who will step in to save a new generation from preventable transmission?
Could the abrupt collapse of global HIV funding accidentally trigger the next uncontainable international viral outbreak?
With thousands of clinics closed, what hidden epidemics are silently spreading through the world's most vulnerable populations right now?
Millions at Risk: The Global Impact of the 2025–2026 PEPFAR Funding Cuts on HIV/AIDS Response
Overview
In 2025, the Trump administration froze foreign aid and dissolved USAID, causing severe disruptions to PEPFAR. Most implementing organizations lost funding, leading to the closure of over 1,700 clinics and a 22% reduction in the workforce. Expanded policy restrictions forced many groups to stop serving vulnerable populations. A limited waiver allowed only minimal HIV services, cutting off prevention for most at-risk groups—over 700,000 people lost access to PrEP. These changes triggered sharp declines in HIV testing and treatment, especially in countries like South Africa and Zambia. Projections warn millions more could be infected or die by 2030 if cuts continue.