Overview

• Protesters in Washington, D.C., demanded the release of congressionally approved global HIV funds, accusing OMB director Russell Vought of illegally impounding money and blocking spending.
• Experts say the administration is holding back roughly half of the $6 billion Congress allocated for PEPFAR in FY2025, with the Sept. 30 deadline threatening unspent funds and no formal rescission request filed.
• A Physicians for Human Rights report based on 39 interviews in Tanzania and Uganda documents babies born with HIV, increased life‑threatening infections, and at least one unwanted abortion during the first 100 days of the funding pause.
• Health workers reported clinic closures, drug shortages, and shortened refills that led some patients to skip doses and risk drug resistance, with Atul Gawande also citing two patient deaths in Nairobi during the USAID pause.
• Some services resumed under waivers prioritizing pregnant or breastfeeding women, but key at‑risk groups—especially LGBTQ+ people—lost prevention support and reported heightened stigma and abuse.