
PEPFAR, a crucial HIV prevention and treatment program, receives exemption from President Trump’s foreign aid pause.
At a Glance
- President Trump ordered a 90-day hold on foreign aid to review alignment with “America First” policy
- PEPFAR, supporting over 20 million HIV-positive individuals globally, initially not exempted
- State Department clarifies PEPFAR activities are allowed to continue
- Exemption covers HIV care, treatment, testing, counseling, and prevention of mother-to-child transmission
- Trump administration considering restructuring USAID under State Department control
PEPFAR Exemption Announced Amid Foreign Aid Review
The U.S. State Department has announced that the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) will be exempt from President Donald Trump’s recent 90-day hold on foreign aid contributions. This decision ensures the continuity of vital HIV prevention and treatment efforts worldwide. The pause in foreign aid was initially implemented to review distribution under the “America First” policy, causing concern among aid organizations and recipients.
The move completely destroys the narrative from the Democrats that Trump simply doesn’t care about saving lives, and proves that his intention while freezing aid was to get to grips with what is being spent and ensure no more waste.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued waivers for emergency food aid and life-saving medical services, but many aid groups remained uncertain about the continuation of their work due to a lack of detailed information. The State Department’s Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy has now clarified that PEPFAR activities are allowed to proceed, including HIV care, treatment services, testing, counseling, and prevention of mother-to-child transmission.
.@UNAIDS has welcomed the decision by the US Secretary of State to keep funding life-saving HIV treatment, including PEPFAR – amidst a 90 day funding pause for foreign aid.
The plan has saved around 26 millions lives in the past 20 yrs.https://t.co/XFmInpXzPP
— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) January 29, 2025
PEPFAR’s exemption from the foreign aid pause is crucial, as the program supports more than 20 million people living with HIV globally. The continuation of these services is essential for maintaining the progress made in combating the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The initial uncertainty surrounding the program’s status had raised concerns about potential disruptions in life-saving treatments and prevention efforts.
“Any other activities not specifically mentioned in this guidance may not be resumed without express approval,” the State Department’s Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy said.
The foreign aid pause has broader implications beyond PEPFAR. Under this directive, USAID payments were halted for the first time since the fiscal year began on October 1. This unprecedented move has raised questions about the future of U.S. foreign assistance and its global impact.
If we’re lucky, the U.S. will dramatically reduce foreign aid going forward…