The Trump admin said it would prioritize ending mother-to-child HIV transmission. Health workers say it cut services

Key Points:

• In January 2025, USAID abruptly halted HIV/AIDS services for children and pregnant women in Tanzania, disrupting a program that had operated for nearly 40 years and leading to ongoing service interruptions despite some restored US funding.
• A July 2025 study by amfAR and Johns Hopkins surveyed 166 PEPFAR-funded organizations across 46 countries, revealing that 63% experienced disruptions to mother-to-child HIV prevention services, with 22% ending these services entirely amid US funding cuts.
• PEPFAR, a major US global health initiative credited with saving over 26 million lives, has faced significant funding reductions under the Trump administration, which shifted focus toward local management and co-financing, causing closures of 1,714 health clinics worldwide in 2024.
• Experts and organizations like the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation warn that declines in pediatric HIV testing and treatment reflect worsening access and quality of care, describing the situation as an “HIV crisis hiding in plain sight.”
• Data collection and reporting have been disrupted, hindering the ability to monitor outcomes accurately; while the US government claims progress, health experts caution that reduced testing and treatment may mask worsening pediatric HIV outcomes.