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Trump to Cut PEPFAR HIV Funds to South Africa
The phased cutoff follows South Africa’s failure to meet U.S. policy demands, and officials say more than $8 billion has been sent since 2003.
On Thursday, June 18, the State Department confirmed the United States will initiate a phased drawdown of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief in South Africa, citing the country's failure to meet specific policy demands.
This decision follows President Donald Trump's February 2025 executive order; administration officials cited unmet conditions including demands that Pretoria reduce its partnership with Iran, end Black Economic Empowerment policies, and address the "Kill the Boer" anti-apartheid chant.
Since its 2003 launch under President George W. Bush, PEPFAR has provided over $8 billion to South Africa, supporting care for roughly 8 million people living with HIV, the largest affected population globally.
U.S. Ambassador Leo Brent Bozell III will meet with South Africa's Ministry of Health next week to deliver the news; funding for healthcare workers continues into 2027 while program awards wind down later this year.
Experts warn that ending PEPFAR support could lead to millions more HIV infections, potentially canceling out 20 years of progress; meanwhile, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is working with Gilead to launch the prevention drug Lenacapavir.
The United States is halting funding for programs to combat the spread of HIV and AIDS in South Africa. More than eight million South Africans live with HIV: the highest number of any country in the world.
2 days ago·Amersfoort, Netherlands (Kingdom of the)
Daily News and Politics podcast from The Economist
Daily News and Politics podcast from The Economist
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The World in Brief from The Economist discuss the U.S. plan to wind down PEPFAR in South Africa over policy disputes, citing Trump’s claims about attacks on white farmers