Global HIV response faces crisis due to funding cuts and policy shifts

The 26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026) highlighted significant threats to global HIV progress, primarily driven by funding disruptions and anti-rights legislation. Changes to United States foreign assistance policies in early 2025 have caused unprecedented disruptions to HIV programs worldwide.

A PEPFAR Pulse study involving 166 partners across 46 countries reported the closure of over 1,700 clinics and service delivery sites, particularly in eastern and southern Africa. In South Africa, more than 8,000 PEPFAR-supported health workers were lost, while Zimbabwe faced risks to nearly 16,700 healthcare positions. Prevention services have seen sharp declines: PrEP enrollments fell by 31% to 64% across various African regions, and condom distribution dropped by over half.

Nigeria reported severe impacts, including an 83% drop in PrEP initiations among vulnerable groups within a single quarter of 2025. Additionally, experts warned that the Trump administration's plan to cease funding for the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) could increase vulnerability to infectious disease threats. Advocates at the conference called for a stronger, unified pro-rights movement to combat criminalization and the rise of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.