Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s order to pause nearly all foreign aid has halted funding to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), an African HIV-prevention program launched by President George W.

The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a federal program that provides HIV medications, is one of the programs on pause during a 90-day review ordered by the Secretary of State.

It is estimated that PEPFAR supports treatment for over 20 million people living with HIV, accounting for two-thirds of all people globally receiving HIV treatment

Leaders of the global fight against HIV/AIDS let out a sigh of relief on Wednesday as the Donald Trump administration scaled back – at least temporarily – one of the most damaging policies of its first days in office.

The United States has approved an emergency humanitarian waiver allowing continued access to HIV treatment funded by the U.S. across 55 countries worldwide including Kenya. On January 29, 2025, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio authorized the waiver,

The United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has approved an “Emergency Humanitarian Waiver” to ensure continued access to US-funded HIV treatment across 55 countries, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS has announced.

Importantly, the programme has provided access to pre-exposure prophylaxis — a medicine that can prevent HIV infection — to 2.5 million people globally. PEPFAR accounts for nearly 90% of PrEP initiations globally, including through its programme SafeZindagi in India.

It is estimated that PEPFAR supports treatment for over 20 million people living with HIV, accounting for two-thirds of all people globally receiving HIV treatment

The State Department has frozen new funding for almost all U.S. aid programs worldwide, making exceptions to allow humanitarian food programs and military aid to Israel and Egypt to continue.

The United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has approved an "Emergency Humanitarian Waiver" allowing continued access to US-funded HIV treatment across 55 countries.

On Friday, a memorandum signed by Marco Rubio called for a 90-day cessation of foreign aid. That would likely put on hold the work of PEPFAR, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.