U.S. Ends HIV Funding to UNAIDS, Raising Global Concerns

The U.S. government has officially terminated its agreement with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), a decision expected to have severe consequences for global HIV response efforts.

The termination follows an Executive Order issued on January 20, 2025, titled “Reevaluating and Realigning U.S. Foreign Aid,” which mandated a 90-day freeze on foreign aid pending a review. On February 27, 2025, UNAIDS received formal notice from USAID that its funding had been cut “with immediate effect.” 

UNAIDS expressed deep concern over the impact of this decision, warning of disruptions in HIV testing, treatment, and prevention services worldwide. Nigeria, which relies on U.S. funding for 47% of its HIV resources, is among the most affected nations. The country has an estimated 2 million people living with HIV, with 1.6 million currently receiving treatment. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) has also raised alarms, highlighting that over 30 million people in low- and middle-income countries depend on donor-funded HIV therapy. The global HIV population stood at 39.9 million as of 2023. 

The Nigerian government recently approved $1.07 billion for healthcare sector reforms and allocated N4.8 billion for HIV treatment, but experts fear this may not fully offset the funding gap left by the U.S. withdrawal. 

UNAIDS has formally reached out to the U.S. government for further clarification on the decision.