HIV/AIDS Crisis Looms as Aid Cuts Threaten Decades of Progress

New projections warn of millions of additional infections and deaths by 2030 as U.S. and global funding reductions disrupt critical prevention and treatment programs.

A Lancet HIV study projects 4.4 to 10.8 million new infections and up to 2.9 million HIV-related deaths globally by 2030 due to foreign aid cuts.
The Trump administration’s 90-day freeze on U.S. foreign aid, including PEPFAR, has already disrupted essential HIV services such as antiretroviral therapy and prevention efforts.
Sub-Saharan Africa faces the greatest impact, with potential surges in new infections and deaths as programs for vulnerable populations are scaled back.
Foreign donors, including the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, and the Netherlands, collectively account for 90% of global HIV funding but are implementing significant cuts.
Experts emphasize the urgent need for sustainable, country-led financing strategies and integration of HIV services into broader health systems to prevent a resurgence of the epidemic.