U.S. Plans Shutdown of HIV Relief Program Saving 26 Million Lives

The Trump administration in 2025 is moving to end the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a U.S. global health program credited with saving over 25 million lives since 2003 by providing HIV treatment and prevention in developing countries. Despite bipartisan support and a recent congressional restoration of $400 million in funding, the program has faced significant contract freezes and funding cuts, with plans to phase out direct HIV treatment services in favor of focusing on disease outbreak detection and promoting American pharmaceuticals and technologies. Internal documents reveal intentions to transition countries away from U.S. aid within as little as two years, shifting PEPFAR’s mission to protecting American interests against outbreaks like Ebola, which has sparked criticism that the administration is quietly dismantling one of the most effective global health efforts in history. The State Department has stated that the draft plans do not reflect official policy and have not been finalized, yet the changes have already alarmed partners and governments abroad as the program’s humanitarian impact diminishes. Critics argue this move represents a surrender in the fight against AIDS, with tens of thousands of deaths already estimated due to program shutdowns and a growing toll expected as funding and support evaporate. This marks a sharp departure from previous administrations, including President Trump’s own earlier stance of mostly preserving PEPFAR, highlighting a new ideological push against what some label "woke foreign welfare."