Overview
- Researchers reported at the AIDS 2026 conference that delayed or terminated PEPFAR awards forced the closure of more than 1,700 clinics and drop‑in centers and led to the loss of over 16,000 full‑time jobs.
- PEPFAR expenditure records show prevention spending fell 51% from fiscal year 2024 to 2025, and many partners said they stopped condom distribution and PrEP services.
- An analysis presented at the conference found about 77,000 fewer children received U.S.‑supported HIV treatment in the year to October 2025, a roughly 14% decline that was largest in countries such as South Africa.
- Locally based organizations faced the heaviest blows as new U.S. policy conditions and funding shifts forced many to curb or permanently end services for sex workers, transgender people, men who have sex with men, and people who inject drugs.
- The U.S. State Department disputes aspects of the survey methods and points to partial quarterly data showing treatment numbers held steady, while U.N. agencies and researchers warn that sustained cuts could lead to far more infections and deaths and that restoring services will take years.