Trump aid cuts trigger setback in global HIV fight, UN warns

Global HIV prevention efforts have sharply declined following sweeping foreign aid reductions introduced by the administration of US President Donald Trump, The Washington Post reports, citing data from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

According to the report, the number of people receiving pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) fell by 38% in 2025 compared with 2024, based on data collected from 62 countries.

The Washington Post noted that funding for contraceptive distribution programs has in some cases been reduced by more than 90%. Aid cuts, pauses, and disruptions affecting the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) have also had serious public health consequences in sub-Saharan Africa, where the majority of global AIDS cases are concentrated.

At the same time, the outlet stated that the annual number of new HIV infections worldwide declined from 2.1 million in 2010 to 1.2 million in 2025, while AIDS-related deaths fell from 1.3 million to 570,000 — the lowest level recorded in the past three decades. However, nearly 9 million people remain without treatment, and UNAIDS warned that reductions in prevention and support services could reverse years of progress. Of the 40.9 million people currently living with HIV, 32.1 million are receiving treatment.

The US State Department said the country remains committed to the global fight against HIV/AIDS and is prioritising treatment over prevention while pursuing bilateral agreements to continue life-saving assistance. UNAIDS noted that treatment programs have so far been sustained through the efforts of donors and local authorities, but it remains unclear how long that support can continue.

By Jeyhun Aghazada