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US-funded health projects worldwide, including critical lifesaving programmes, received termination notices on Thursday as President Donald Trump’s administration neared the completion of a review aimed at ensuring foreign aid aligns with its “America First” policy.
Trump had ordered a 90-day pause on all foreign aid in January to assess whether projects were consistent with his administration’s foreign policy. While US Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously assured that life-saving aid would be protected through waivers, a court document dated 25 February revealed that more than 90% of programmes globally were ultimately terminated, including many that initially received exemptions. This included projects addressing HIV, malaria, maternal health, and other vital healthcare services.
In South Africa, several of the largest US-funded HIV/AIDS programmes were informed that their funding would not resume, according to three senior health organisation leaders. A major global non-profit working on malaria and maternal and newborn health also had most of its contracts cancelled.
Documents reviewed by Reuters confirmed that UNAIDS, the UN agency dedicated to tackling HIV and AIDS, had its contract with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) cancelled. Khana, a Cambodian organisation focused on HIV and tuberculosis, also received a termination notice, a source familiar with its work said.
The US State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and it remains unclear how many organisations worldwide were affected or what specific criteria were used for the terminations.
“Secretary Rubio and (USAID) Deputy Administrator (Peter) Marocco have determined your award is not aligned with Agency priorities and made a determination that continuing this program is not in the national interest,” stated the official termination notice sent to affected organisations, which was seen by Reuters.
Reacting to the widespread cuts, International AIDS Society President Beatriz Grinsztejn warned that critical healthcare services were collapsing. “The US funding cuts are dismantling the system. HIV treatment is crumbling. TB services are collapsing… Lives are on the line,” she said. Her organisation is not directly affected by the cuts.
Some of the defunded programmes in South Africa provided HIV/AIDS services to vulnerable groups, including LGBT+ individuals and sex workers.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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