Activists celebrate a minor victory, yet HIV-related initiatives in South Africa remain undisturbed
The $400 million cut to the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) was initially part of a larger $9.4 billion "rescissions package" known as the H.R.4 Rescissions Act of 2025. However, despite being removed from the package, the funds have not been restored or obligated for spending.
The removal was a political compromise to maintain bipartisan support for PEPFAR, a US government program that funds AIDS projects in poorer countries with high HIV infection rates, such as South Africa. However, the funds remain withheld or restricted under the administration's control, delaying or denying their use for PEPFAR programming until rules or policies change.
The cut represents about 8.5% of PEPFAR's 2025 budget of $4.725 billion. Projects that assist teen girls and young women in Africa, trans people, sex workers, injecting drug users, and gay and bisexual men cannot be funded due to the waiver.
Dozens of modelling studies have projected the potential outcomes if the lost funds are not replaced, and plenty of media coverage about the devastating consequences of the funding cuts has been published. HIV projects that were previously funded by the US government in South Africa will not restart due to this decision.
Opposition to non-evidence-based cuts to PEPFAR is emerging within Trump's Republican Party. Activists have held hundreds of meetings with US senators and congressional committee chairs, and "Save PEPFAR" social media campaigns have gained traction.
PEPFAR has been credited with saving more than 25 million lives since its inception, and has been supported by both Democrats and Republicans for two decades. Activists argue this moment should be used to push for changes that allow PEPFAR funds to cover the populations and prevention services now needed.
The "limited Pepfar waiver" announced in February remains in place, limiting HIV prevention activities to those that aim to prevent transmission from pregnant or breastfeeding women to their babies. The $400m cut seems to be an arbitrary amount taken back from PEPFAR, a program that has been instrumental in global HIV and TB efforts.
[1] Rescissions Act of 2025
[2] PEPFAR Faces Uncertain Future as Funding Cuts Loom
[3] PEPFAR Funding Cuts: What You Need to Know
- The $400 million cut to PEPFAR, a US government program funding AIDS projects, was initially part of the Rescissions Act of 2025.
- The removal of the funds was a political compromise to maintain bipartisansupport for PEPFAR.
- Despite being removed from the Rescissions Act, the funds have not been restored or obligated for spending.
- The cut represents about 8.5% of PEPFAR's 2025 budget.
- Projects that assist vulnerable populations, such as teen girls, trans people, sex workers, injecting drug users, and gay and bisexual men cannot be funded due to the waiver.
- Dozens of modelling studies have projected the potential outcomes if the lost funds are not replaced.
- Plenty of media coverage about the devastating consequences of the funding cuts has been published.
- HIV projects that were previously funded by the US government will not restart due to this decision.
- Opposition to non-evidence-based cuts to PEPFAR is emerging within Trump's Republican Party.
- Activists have held hundreds of meetings with US senators and congressional committee chairs.
- "Save PEPFAR" social media campaigns have gained traction.
- PEPFAR has been credited with saving more than 25 million lives since its inception.
- Activists argue this moment should be used to push for changes that allow PEPFAR funds to cover the populations and prevention services now needed.
- The "limited Pepfar waiver" announced in February limits HIV prevention activities to those that aim to prevent transmission from pregnant or breastfeeding women to their babies.
- The $400m cut seems to be an arbitrary amount taken back from PEPFAR, a program that has been instrumental in global HIV and TB efforts.
- The cut to PEPFAR funding poses a significant threat to workplace-wellness, especially in countries with high HIV infection rates.
- Science and medical-conditions, such as chronic diseases, cancer, respiratory conditions, digestive-health, eye-health, hearing, and skin-conditions, are all affected by the lack of funding.
- Health-and-wellness, mental-health, therapies-and-treatments, nutrition, and cardiovascular-health are all integral parts of the PEPFAR mission.
- Neurological-disorders, autoimmune-disorders, and other medical conditions require continuous funding for research and treatment.
- Education-and-self-development, personal-growth, and mindfulness are crucial for overall health and wellness, and are often overlooked in times of funding cuts.
- Fitness-and-exercise, sexual-health, and eye-health are essential components of comprehensive health policies.
- The impact of the funding cuts on migrants seeking asylum or aid should also be considered.
- The lack of PEPFAR funding may lead to decreased productivity and career-development opportunities in the affected countries.
- Policy-and-legislation surrounding HIV prevention, testing, and treatment should be updated to reflect current medical knowledge and resources.
- Car-accidents, fires, crime-and-justice, and general-news can all impact health and wellness, but they should not divert attention from critical health issues like PEPFAR.
- Learning, goal-setting, lifelong-learning, skills-training, and sports can all contribute to a healthier and more productive population.
- Football, soccer, WNBA, baseball, hockey, golf, basketball, NCAA basketball, MLB, NHL, racing, American football, NBA, grand prix, horse-racing, tennis, auto-racing, mixed-martial-arts, and other sports provide opportunities for personal growth and self-development.
- War-and-conflicts often exacerbate health issues and make it more difficult to access healthcare services, including those funded by PEPFAR.
- Ultimately, restoring and strengthening funding for PEPFAR is crucial for global health and wellness, promoting a better future for all.
