An undisclosed number of additional deaths from AIDS have occurred, and 2.5 million people have lost access to lifesaving antiretroviral medication due to cuts in global HIV programs since Donald Trump returned to office, according to UNAIDS.
In its report titled “Overcoming Disruption”, released ahead of World AIDS Day on 1st of December UNAIDS warned that persistent funding shortfalls are having severe, long-term impacts on the health and wellbeing of millions worldwide. The agency said community partners have reported deaths linked to the closure of clinics and treatment programs, although full data is still being collected.
The global HIV response entered “crisis mode” when the United States — historically providing 75% of international HIV funding — temporarily halted all contributions earlier this year. The White House rejected UNAIDS’s findings as “totally false,” insisting that President Trump is ensuring taxpayer-funded programs align with American interests.
Other major donors, including several European countries, have also reduced foreign aid after pressure from Washington to divert more spending toward defence.
Although some initiatives have resumed through the U.S. PEPFAR program, overall funding continues to decline, placing 2030 targets to end AIDS as a public health threat at serious risk. UNAIDS executive director Winnie Byanyima said the agency is working with about 30 countries to strengthen domestic financing but noted that the existing funding gap cannot be closed rapidly.
According to UNAIDS, 40.8 million people are currently living with HIV, and 1.3 million new infections were reported in 2024. Despite major progress — including a 54% drop in annual AIDS-related deaths and a 40% reduction in new infections since 2010 — recent funding cuts have severely undermined prevention services.
As of October 2025, an estimated 2.5 million people had lost access to PrEP, a key preventive medication. Distribution of preventive drugs has fallen sharply in several countries, including a 31% drop in Uganda, 21% in Vietnam and 64% in Burundi. Nigeria also recorded a 55% decline in condom distribution between December last year and March this year.
A survey by UNAIDS and the ATHENA Network found that nearly half of women and adolescent girls had experienced disruptions to HIV prevention and treatment services in their communities.
“Behind every data point are real people — babies missing early HIV testing, young women cut off from prevention, and communities suddenly left without care,” Ms Byanyima said. “We cannot abandon them. We must overcome this disruption and transform the AIDS response.”
