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US HIV Aid Faces Hurdles: Testing Declines Sharply
18 Apr
Summary
- HIV treatment support reached 20.6 million people by September.
- HIV testing rates dropped significantly due to funding cuts.
- Program interruptions led to a 16-month data blackout.
The U.S. State Department announced it had supported HIV treatment for 20.6 million individuals as of September last year. This figure includes those receiving care through their own governments, with a portion funded by PEPFAR. Despite this broad support, a significant drop in HIV testing rates has been observed.
This reduction in testing is attributed to funding cutbacks and program interruptions that began in January 2025. AIDS advocates expressed concern over the lack of data from early 2025, calling it an unprecedented 16-month data blackout. The Trump administration's "America First Global Health Strategy" aims to steer recipient countries toward self-reliance for HIV care.
During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025, the number of people receiving antiretroviral therapy through PEPFAR decreased to 17.4 million from 19.4 million in the prior year. Concurrently, HIV testing fell to 17.2 million people, down from 21.9 million. New HIV diagnoses also declined.
These interruptions have led to fears that hundreds of thousands may have lost access to life-saving medication. PEPFAR, established in 2003, has been credited with saving millions of lives and preventing infections in newborns.
